Amber Glenn stumbles, Alysa Liu soars on evening 1 : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4547x3032+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2F7f%2Fb9f00cf34190bc29ac8ee19303fb%2Fgettyimages-2261684517.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4547x3032+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2F7f%2Fb9f00cf34190bc29ac8ee19303fb%2Fgettyimages-2261684517.jpg" class="img" alt="Amber Glenn reacts to her score in the women's short program event on Tuesday. She got docked for landing a double loop instead of a triple loop, despite an otherwise strong performance." fetchpriority="high"/> Amber Glenn reacts to her rating within the Olympic ladies's quick program occasion on Tuesday. She bought docked for touchdown a double loop as a substitute of a triple loop, regardless of an in any other case robust efficiency. Wang Zhao/AFP by way of Getty Photos disguise caption

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MILAN — Determine skating at these Winter Olympics has been stuffed with dramatic twists. And Tuesday, the primary evening of the ladies's competitors, was no totally different: The U.S. ladies all certified for Thursday's medal occasion. However they're significantly farther behind than anticipated.

The "Blade Angels," as they've been dubbed, started Tuesday evening's quick program because the nation's greatest hope at a person medal on this occasion in twenty years. However solely two of them completed within the prime 10.

That ups the stress heading into Thursday's free skate, which makes up the opposite half of their total rating.

Reigning world champion Alysa Liu stands in third place, behind Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto of Japan.

In direction of the very finish of the evening, Liu, 20, skated a strong routine to Laufey's "Promise" that earned her a season-best rating and moved her towards the highest of the leaderboard.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5031x3354+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc2%2Ff3%2F096d623b41489ee32fd509512f3e%2Fgettyimages-2262181636.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5031x3354+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc2%2Ff3%2F096d623b41489ee32fd509512f3e%2Fgettyimages-2262181636.jpg" class="img" alt="Alysa Liu competes in her short prog" loading="lazy"/> Alysa Liu's quick program on Tuesday earned her a season-best rating. Matthew Stockman/Getty Photos disguise caption

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Matthew Stockman/Getty Photos She was adopted by Isabeau Levito, 18, whose elegant routine to "Virtually In Your Arms, Zou Bisou Bisou" landed her in fifth place, with a number of skaters left to go. She in the end completed the evening in eighth place.

The penultimate skater was Amber Glenn, the three-time reigning U.S. champion, making her Olympic debut at age 26.

Glenn kicked off her program — set to Madonna's "Like a Prayer" — with a clear triple axel, a uncommon feat for girls on the Olympics. The remainder of her routine was robust till the final bounce, which she landed as a double fairly than the required triple, docking her in any other case robust rating.

She left the ice in tears, and put her head in her arms after receiving a rating of 67.39, as a hush briefly came to visit the packed crowd. Glenn, one of many medal favorites in your entire ladies's area, completed the evening in thirteenth place.

Liu was speaking to reporters beneath the rink as Glenn took the ice, together with her routine — and response — seen on a TV display. Liu appeared involved for her teammate and good friend.

"She's gone by a lot and she or he works so freaking laborious … I simply need her to be joyful," Liu mentioned of Glenn. "Like, that is genuinely all I would like. And so I will be seeing her later."

Glenn has been an outspoken advocate for psychological well being, publicly sharing about her struggles with nervousness and despair all through her profession. She didn't take questions from the press on the finish of the evening.

The majority of U.S. skating followers' hopes for a ladies's medal now relaxation with Liu. It is an ironic twist for the skater who retired as a teen, then returned with renewed emphasis on creativity over competitors.

After her efficiency on Tuesday, Liu spoke excitedly of her hopes of being invited to carry out on the Olympic exhibition gala this weekend, teasing a "actually cool gala program" she's been engaged on that is "principally carried out."

"I do not want a medal," she mentioned. "I simply must be right here, and I simply must be current. And I would like folks to see what I do subsequent."