The 20-year-old put the US women back on top of the Olympic women's podium in this event for the first time since Sarah Hughes took gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Alysa Liu put on an exceptional short program, Amber Glenn struggled after a strong start, and Isabeau Levito had a clean performance.

Alysa Liu said she doesn't need to win a medal in women's figure skating, but the U.S. needs her to so it can salvage Olympics.