Russia's Yulia Lipnitskaya falls in free program
Russia's 15-year-old figure skating phenom Yulia Lipnitskaya was visibly disappointed after her free skate on Thursday. She stumbled once, and fell once, unable to land her triple salchow, and so ended her dreams of winning another medal at the Sochi Games in the women's free skate.
Lipnitskaya: Eyes of the sports world, hopes of a nation on your shoulders. How did you do when you were 15?
— Richard Demak (@rdemak) February 20, 2014
Lipnitskaya finished with a 135.34 score in the free program, putting her in first place with a score of 200.57, ahead of Japan's Mao Asada's 198.22. But the top skaters after the short program are still to come.
Lipnitskaia again has that look on her face of sorrowful disappointment. This child hard on herself.
— Sally Jenkins (@sallyjenx) February 20, 2014
That's what's important to remember: Lipnitskaya is still a child. The home crowd in Sochi saluted her upon the end of her skate, with deafening applause.
She did Russia proud.