Mirai Nagasu makes Olympic history with figure skating triple axel

Olympic figure skater Mirai Nagasu made history Monday in Pyeongchang, South Korea, as she landed a triple axel during her performance — a feat never performed by an American woman at the Winter Games.

Nagasu, a 24-year-old from Montebello, California, skated first of five women in the women’s free skate during the team competition in the Gangneung Ice Arena.

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

Nagasu completed a largely flawless routine, which she ended with fist pumps of joy as she got a standing ovation from the crowd. The Team USA skater received a personal-best score of 137.53.
Midori Ito and Mao Asada, both of Japan, also have landed triple axels during the Olympics.
Excited fans and fellow skaters took to social media to cheer on the historic moment for both Nagasu and the U.S.

Just left filming to find out that @mirai_nagasu got her axel called clean in the team comp! So proud of this girl, such an inspiration with what she has done to her career 👊👊👊

— Ashley Wagner (@AshWagner2010) February 12, 2018

Watching Team Canada erupt into applause when American skater Mirai Nagasu became only the third woman to land a triple axel at the #Olympics almost made me tear up. pic.twitter.com/VKBg7Tnmkh

— Derek Lewis (@dereklew) February 12, 2018

Lookit Mirai Nagasu getting stoked on that TRIPLE AXEL. Cuuuuuute. pic.twitter.com/nVGJySb7Z0

— Cameron Esposito (@cameronesposito) February 12, 2018

AMAZING!!!!! @mirai_nagasu @Adaripp so much fun watching you guys today.. you guys are rockstars! @TeamUSA

— Kali Flanagan (@flanagko) 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

Four years ago, Adam Rippon and MIrai Nagasu were eating in-n-out burger in California, crying and watching the Sochi Olympics from their couch. Look at them now.

— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) 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

Yessss!!! Crushed it @mirai_nagasu https://t.co/T7s1yAlYKa

— Amanda Kessel (@AmandaKessel8) February 12, 2018