Zhangjiakou, Feb. 17 (BNA): Home candidate Elaine Gu advanced in the women’s semi-freestyle piping preliminaries Thursday, taking a step closer to her goal of winning three medals at her first Olympics.
Joe fell in a half-pipe Thursday and did two confident runs, earning a top score of 95.50 after landing in a 900-streak with a mid-air snatch on her second try. After her spot in the final was nearly confirmed, Go waved her ski poles and smiled widely for the camera after the run, Reuters reports.
“I didn’t have much time to train but I am satisfied today,” Jo told reporters, adding that she had not had a day off since the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.
Despite this, Joe was in good spirits.
“I feel really good,” she said.
Loyal fans braved frigid temperatures of -14.6 degrees Celsius (5.7 degrees Fahrenheit) to carry red cards emblazoned with the 18-year-old’s name in Chinese, while other fans raised a large Chinese flag and rocked neon green plastic hand suckers whenever Gu appeared. half tube.
Gu, who competed on the US team as a child but turned to compete for China in 2019, said her new Games goal is to finish on the podium in all three of her events after winning the Big Air gold last week. He took the silver in the water skiing final on Tuesday.
Second place in Thursday’s qualifiers was Canadian Olympian Rachel Karker for the first time with a best result of 89.50.
Often compared to Gu and referred to by Chinese commentators as one of the “fan girls” in free skating, Estonian Kelly Seldaro also advanced to the final, gaining 87.50 points in her first round easily placing her in third. Confident in her first recording, Sildaru is no longer in the second round of the day.
“It was a very easy round, I was surprised that I scored so much,” Celdaro said, noting that she had more tricks during the final.
Pyeongchang gold medalist from Canada Cassie Sharp finished sixth during the qualifying round.
Each skater earned two rounds on the course in the playoffs. The top 12 of today’s rounds advanced to the final, which is scheduled for Friday.