Americans rally after shaky starts

gangneung — Bradie Tennell fell during her opening jump combination at the Pyeongchang Olympics, a mistake so rare that the reigning US champion couldn’t remember the last time it happened.

Mirai Nagasu fell trying to land her signature triple axel, which she pulled off in the team event but is so hard that nobody else in the competition attempts it.

Karen Chen bobbled her opening triple lutz, which was supposed to feed into a triple toe, forcing her to adjust the rest of her routine to squeeze in another combination jump.

All three Americans showed tremendous resilience in holding their programs together.

Tennell, the first skater on the ice for the short program Wednesday, wound up with the lead for more than two hours with her score of 64.01 points. Nagasu had 66.93 and Chen totaled 65.90, leaving all three out of medal contention but proud of the way they fought back.

“I think it’s just that each of us have been through so many experiences and ups and downs. We each struggle with our individual obstacles,” Chen said.

“I’m sure they’re all really different but the same in many ways, and I think that’s given us character, to never give up and keep going.”

Alina Zagitova led heading into Friday’s free skate with a record 82.92 points, followed by Russian teammate Evgenia Medvedeva with 81.61. Canada’s Kaetlyn Osmond was third with 78.87.

Nagasu wound up ninth, with her teammates right behind.

Tennell landed everything during her early morning practice — in fact, she had landed just about everything since arriving in South Korea — and that had given her tremendous confidence heading into her short program at Gangneung Ice Arena.

But after landing her opening triple lutz, Tennell was unable to hold onto her triple toe loop, falling on the second half of a combination that had become so familiar. —