By Marjoe Toquillo

PHOTO: Getty Images

Anna Scherbakova (ROC) turned the tables around to claim the women's figure skating gold in clutch fashion during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics inside the Capital Indoor Stadium, Thursday.

Scherbakova, who ended second in the short program event with 80.20 points, extended her elegant antics by pouring a quad flip-triple toe combo, enough to slot the second top score in the long program via 175.57 points and soon cap it off with 255.95 for her top podium finish.

The Russian Olympian’s polished performance in the long program made up for the points required to outscore fellow countryman and expected gold medalist, Kamila Valieva, who banked a staggering 82.16 points in the short program event.

A meticulously-executed quad flip and triple lutz-triple loop combo was the 17-year old's ace in the hole, paving the way to her long-program element output of 100.49.

Moreover, the Moscow-based figure skater adorned her long program performance with a 75.26, concluding her glamorous routine on the second spot with 175.75 points.

Meanwhile, the gold medal bet Valieva carried her boots home at the latter part of the match as the 15-year old had two stumbles and two falls on her free-skate exhibition; missing a podium finish this year.

Alexandra Trusova, Scherbakova’s compatriot danced with regal class to grasp the highest score in the long program, but her efforts for a comeback win were just not enough to steal the gold medal.

The podium roster of the event was almost swept by the Russian belle skaters but Kaori Sakamoto of Japan joined the victory derby as the bronze medal bearer.


Edited by Jostle Doen Pilayre