Russian Olympic Committee team figure skater Kamila Valieva became the first woman to land a quadruple jump at the Olympics when she did so twice during Monday's free skate event.
Valieva, 15, the world record holder in multiple figure skating events, including the short program, made her Olympics debut in Beijing with tremendous expectations, and she delivered.
Valieva completed the crisp, exacting four-revolution-minimum jumps with seeming ease. Among her milestones Monday at Capital Indoor Stadium was a quad salchow and a quad toe that included a triple-toe combination.
She fell on her third attempt, the first time this season that she has tumbled on a quad in competition.
Valieva's first place showings in the short and long programs helped to earn ROC win gold in figure skating team competition Monday. The United States took silver. And Japan earned took bronze.
It was the U.S. team's best finish in the event since its debut in 2014.
ROC men's team contender Mark Kondratiuk placed second in free skate the previous evening, contributing to the team's gold.
