A performance for the record books by Mirai Nagasu, complete with a celebration we’ll remember for a long time. #BestOfUS #WinterOlympics https://t.co/NsNuy9F46h pic.twitter.com/ew8YKEYGzc
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2018
Mirai Nagasu made history in PyeongChang by becoming the first American woman and only the third women to ever land the vaunted triple axel in the Olympics. To put in perspective, the axel jump was invented in the late 1800s, and the triple axel has only been landed by eight women ever in international competition. Now Nagasu joins Midori Ito and Mao Asada from Japan as one of the greatest to ever do it.
Naturally, the extremely entertaining commentating booth featuring Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir were blown away by what they saw. Here’s Lipinski’s reaction that would make Harry Caray proud.
"HOLY COW!" You just witnessed a historic triple axel from Mirai Nagasu. #WinterOlympics https://t.co/NsNuy9F46h pic.twitter.com/jCMTb4LtXv
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2018
The perfect landing of one of figure skatings harder jumps had U.S. and Nagasu’s teammates losing it. Nagasu couldn’t contain herself, either.
.@mirai_nagasu is HYPE. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/OOGZjlDjzU
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2018
"I'm gonna go for it, 100%, and not pull back." #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/B9ObgGjnbu
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2018
Now that’s a reaction. Mirai Nagasu really was terrific. Rose to the occasion. 137.53 points. Just what she needed to do for the Americans. pic.twitter.com/B4kFdpyeXA
— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) February 12, 2018
Take a bow, @mirai_nagasu. First US woman to land a triple Axel in the #WinterOlympics, third ever. Emotion POURING out after she's done #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/6cCnclVFlH
— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) February 12, 2018
A 137.53 is a career-best for Mirai Nagasu, who previously had a best of 132.04 in this very building at 4CCs last season #PyeongChang2018
— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) February 12, 2018
That long program, complete with a TRIPLE AXEL, from Mirai Nagasu was the epitome of COURAGE. No one would have blamed her if she left that element out for the team event. But NOPE, she went out guns blazing and made some American Olympic history! I still have goosebumps!
— Chris Schleicher (@cschleichsrun) February 12, 2018
Four years ago, Nagasu and current Olympic figure skating darling Adam Rippon were left off the team. As they tell it, they were watching the Olympics, eating In-N-Out burger, wishing they could be in Sochi. Now Rippon is doing his best skating and Nagasu is in the history books. Incredible.