Kamila Valieva Is in First Place After the Brief Program

“I don’t know what I anticipated, however I imagined it will be by some means completely different,” she stated. “After I fell off the axel bounce, the remainder I did simply.”

After her efficiency, Trusova sat stone-faced and frozen within the space the place skaters wait for his or her scores, as if it hadn’t even registered that she may rating 74.60 factors and sit simply off the medals stand as the ladies go into the free skate.

Shcherbakova, the reigning world champion, didn’t wish to speak about medals, saying, “It’s early to talk about the medals. It’s too early for the medals.” However she is in place, actually, to win one after touchdown her double axel and three triple jumps, and checking off ability after ability with dedication.

“I spotted how vital this skate was and I attempted to concentrate to each element,” she stated.

When requested about Valieva and the doping scenario, Shcherbakova stated she wouldn’t touch upon it. Valieva didn’t make herself accessible to reporters, both, strolling previous them after which skipping the information convention after the occasion.

Sakamoto admitted that there have been instances when she puzzled what was going to occur with the Valieva affair, however as with most skaters right here she wanted to attempt to block it out if she was going to skate her greatest.

“I’m not likely specializing in these issues,” she stated. “I have to deal with me, on my recreation.”

Due to Valieva, a medal ceremony for the ladies’s occasion could not even happen.

If Valieva goes on to win or place within the prime three on this occasion, there shall be no medal ceremony for any of the medalists — not even a ceremony the place they’re awarded stuffed Olympic panda mascots — as a result of her doping case stays below investigation. Already, medals for the staff occasion Russia gained final week, when it beat america and Japan, are on maintain till her case is resolved.