Mirai Nagasu Becomes First US Woman To Land Triple Axel At The Olympics!

The triple axel is considered to be one of the most difficult jumps a skater can make, because it is the only jump where the skater takes to the air facing forward, then makes three-and-a-half rotations before landing.

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

The 24-year-old California was the first of five women to skate in the event and led her routine with the historic triple axel 21 seconds in, before continuing several more jumps to finish flawlessly and with a personal best score of 137.53.

The feat drew loud cheers and an ovation from the Gangneung Ice Arena crowd and her teammates were elated.

Watch The Historical Jump:

Nagasu is the daughter of Japanese immigrants and her ancestry did not escape her as it was noted that Japan’s Midori Ito landed the first triple axel at the 1992 Olympics, followed by Mao Asada in 2010.

“Midori Ito, Mao Asada and now Mirai Nagasu, all Japanese heritage,” Nagasu said. “But I’m really fortunate that I’m American, so I’ll be the first U.S. lady.”