♪ >> alina has the most difficult combination that any ladies perform in either the short or long program. the triple lutz triple loop right here. >> so difficult going off the edge. after that triple lutz, very solid. ♪

♪ >> that's the way you chase the leader. technically brilliant. >> olympic athlete from russia. >> incredible baby swanning out there. all of her jumps really were like fireworks. the grade of execution was so strong on all of those jumps. zagitova has the edge. >> she won everything on the junior level, including the

world junior championship in 2017. stepped up to the senior ranks and oh, just did the same thing. including recently beating medvedeva at the european championships. that technical number is higher. same coach, the same hug. different skater. carolina taking the ice next. it takes confidence to dream big ♪ ♪ save for your family's dreams... [crowd cheering...] ...and find financial confidence... speak with a sun trust team or go to onup.com. suntrust confidence starts here ♪

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will we see that change? >> alina has earned 82.9. >> just keep changing that number, it goes up and up and up. >> how extraordinary. watch how difficult this is. you're doing a triple lutz, then you have no wiggle room right here, on an edge jump to have any mistake. all of her jumps were nicely rotated, clean landings. >> beautiful air positions. essentially right now, the difference between medvedeva and zagitova is the triple toe loop competition. it is the 15-year-old who has the lead. alina zagitova. carolina kostner.

>> from a 15-year-old we go to a 31-year-old veteran. carolina kostner from italy. we've been watching her for so many years. she's one of the all time great artists on the ice. still around. back once again. she won a bronze medal in sochi in 2014. she says, i still feel like a little girl, privileged and honored to be here. ♪ ♪ >> she needs this to be a triple

triple, only a triple double. ♪ >> fortunate hand down there on the triple loop. carolina's strength is in the program components. in the past she has trouble technically, it will still come through on the components. at this level of competition, how strongly her main rivals have performed. she couldn't afford any mistakes. ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

>> her skating skills, her artistry is like no other. the relationship to her music, it's beyond. she is a true artist, but there's two scores here, and this is a competition. that would have been a lovely performance at a show. >> it just does not have the technical content to compete with the current top three. yes, her skating is beautiful, yes her jumps are beautiful, it's all about now when she does those jumps. when i spoke to carolina, she said there's no way to shake the nerves. if you aren't nervous, then you don't care. caring is something that's so evident in her performance. so thoughtful the whole way throughout. >> torino and home in 2006,

vancouver in 2010. sochi in 2014. her long time coach, carolina kostner. and zagitova talking about how she got to the lead.

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paraolympic gear. sponsored by visa. >> she's currently in sixth place. >> 82.93 is what she would need to lead. a long way from that. in sixth place. what a part of this sport she's been for a long time. earned her place. >> definitely has. >> bronze medal at the olympics last time. >> the final skater. olympic athlete from russia. >> the final skater to take the ice, 17-year-old maria sotskova. eighth in the world last year. certainly one of those names that could figure in when you talk about the other two

russians at the top. don't forget about this one. >> she's definitely a podium threat, especially if kaetlyn osmond falls apart in the free skate. ♪ >> she has a very classical style. she'll open with a triple lutz triple toe loop. ♪

>> do you guys have a brief explanation how this has happened in russia, there's just one after another after another after another? >> after the vancouver olympics they changed their judging system, they were giving bonuses to skaters that were trying more difficult jumps. that didn't happen in the u.s. until after sochi. >> the top 14 ladies in russia could be competing for the podium at the olympic games. ♪

♪ ♪ >> very disappointing. that's ice skating for you, one

fall can change the rest of the competition. >> olympic athlete from russia about. >> this field is too deep in my opinion. >> she was thinking on her feet, though, after missing that first jump competition attempt, she put it a triple toe loop on the end of her triple flip, something that very few ladies have the wherewithal to complete. she has some good quality in her skating, she has lovely positioning, and the classical ballet style. however, she doesn't reach out and grab you in the throat. >> she's a long way from zagitova or medvedeva territory. a lot of yellow and a red up on the board. earlier, medvedeva posted the best number ever before zagitova did. and then she stopped to talk to andrea. >> during the team competition, she talked about feeling the magic of the olympics. did you still sense that magic

out there today? >> very strong, more than the team even. i had nervous -- not so much. not so much like on team event. i already know what is olympics, and i were a little confident. >> you told johnny weir that your goal was to be in your bubble. how difficult is that to do, when everybody is talking about you, and alina and the showdown between the two of you? >> i know my openings. my openings are so strong. and all kpeers who compete here is really strong -- not only -- they're so strong inside. because we are sports man and it

isn't easy. sometimes it's hard to be in shape but all these competitions are for us. >> we thank her for stopping to talk to andrea. now she's talking to everybody. going to talk for a while. that's just a normal day for her at a skating rink, that's for sure. >> yes. she's a major star. she's been the queen for two years. there's a new princess knocking at her thrown. >> in second place right now to zagitova. they train together, haven't always -- i wouldn't say get along. they're rivals, they're true rivals. >> sotskova, in 12th place. that's a bit of devastation for her. >> no russian sweep. it's more so the points you

collect in the short program versus the placement that you're in. >> the olympic athletes from russia occupying the top two spots, then canada with kaetlyn osmond, japan fourth and fifth. down to the americans. mirai nagasu, karen chen and bradie tennell. as we look ahead to the free skate, kaetlyn osmond trying to be the third at the olympics. medvedeva still very confident she can win the gold medal. and certainly there's not much of a space between number one and number two, zagitova. the 15-year-old leads the way heading into the free skate. i've always wanted to share a special moment with my mom. i think surprising her with a night ski trip would just be the biggest gift i could give her. let's make that happen. she's gonna be so excited.

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and there it is, the "baby bird". breathtaking. a sumo wrestler figure skating? surprising. what's not surprising? how much money heather saved by switching to geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. or two? or both? because at visionworks, when you buy a pair of glasses you get a second pair free. so an extra pair for you, or a pair to share. whatever you do, you'll see a better you. visionworks. (foot(boy sighs)ring) (dramatic orchestral music) (robot whooshing over dramatic music) - [spokesman] with six grams of energy-giving protein, there's nothing you and almonds can't do. oh hi sweetie, i just want to show you something. xfinity mobile: find my phone. [ phone rings ] look at you. this tech stuff is easy.

[ whirring sound ] you want a cookie? it's a drone! i know. find your phone easily with the xfinity voice remote. one more way comcast is working to fit into your life, not the other way around. this broadcast is presented by authority of the international olympic community and may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any form without the express written consent of the international olympic committee. we'll see the finals of the ladies figure skating thursday night. last night we welcomed jimmy into our prime plus coverage, he's back right now, for another installment of the five minute tonight show.

[ cheers and applause ] >> steve: from studio 6b in rockefeller center in the heart of new york city, it's a special five-minute edition of "the tonight show starring jimmy fallon." it's "the fallon five." and now, here's your host, jimmy fallon! [ cheers and applause ] ♪ >> jimmy: oh, my goodness. thank you very much. oh, that's what i'm talking about. [ cheers and applause ] five minutes. five minutes of straight applause. five minutes of nothing but applause. [ cheers and applause ] that's all we have. this is good tv. thank you. welcome. welcome to our five-minute olympics special, "the fallon five!" or as olympians call it, "the tonight show short program." [ laughter and applause ] and before we start, i want to let you know that in solidarity with the athletes, i'm wearing all spandex underneath my suit. [ laughter ] let's check in on things over in pyeongchang.

as of today, the u.s. was in sixth place overall. yeah. [ light laughter ] the athletes want to do better. but they're afraid if they win, fergie will sing the national anthem again. [ laughter and applause ] >> steve: really? >> jimmy: you got to watch it. >> steve: wow. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: there's not enough time -- not a lot of time left, though. in fact, there are just five more days of the winter olympics in south korea. unless kim jong un pops out and sees his shadow, then we get six more weeks of the olympics. [ laughter ] so who knows. but there are so many ways to enjoy the olympics this year. in fact, this is the first winter olympics to be broadcast live in virtual reality. or as men buying virtual reality goggles put it, "yes. the olympics are totally what i am going to watch with these goggles." yeah. [ laughter ] "cross country skiing. get the kids out of the room!" [ laughter ] there are 15 different sports in the winter olympics, and sometimes it can be very hard to keep track of which is which. that might be because some of their names don't really do a

good job describing what the sport is. so here to rename some of the winter olympic sports, please welcome the hosts of "desus and mero" on viceland, desus and mero! [ cheers and applause ] ♪ >> jimmy: always nice to see you. desus and mero. >> we're here. >> jimmy: thank you. >> we're back. >> jimmy: thank you for being here, guys. are you ready to update these names? >> yes! >> let's do it. >> let's do it, bro. we are millennials. we like to rename things that are already named. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: okay, here we go. let's start with cross-country skiing. what should we call that? >> i had to think deep on this. i want to call it "boring skiing." >> yes. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: okay, perfect. yeah, we can do that. >> "squawking." >> jimmy: that's great. how about -- how about curling? >> "aggressive janitoring." [ laughter and applause ] you know what i'm saying. >> i have another name for that. i'd like to call it "oh, she's coming over soon? all right, let me clean up." [ laughter ] >> y'all know what it is.

>> jimmy: what about speed skating? >> all right, that's just "racing in spanx." [ laughter ] >> jimmy: okay. how about this? luge? >> "yeah, look, we're really good friends and very comfortable with each other." [ laughter ] >> that's all it is, just friends. >> "he lays on top of me. we do our sport thing. that's it." >> jimmy: "we're doing a sport thing." >> wow. wow. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: how about bobsledding? >> come on, man. "cool runnings." [ laughter ] [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: what about snowboarding? >> "dude, i was gonna ski, but i can only afford this one big ass ski." [ laughter ] >> jimmy: what about nordic combined? >> all right. i would like to call this "this isn't a real sport. you just made this up for the winter olympics, and i can't prove that." [ laughter ] >> jimmy: this is good. ski jumping? >> "no!" [ laughter ] >> not safe at all. not safe at all. >> jimmy: i wouldn't do it either. >> no, no, not at all. >> jimmy: finally, ice hockey. >> "white people basketball." [ laughter ] >> that's a good one. that's a good one.

>> jimmy: all right, there you go. [ applause ] our thanks to desus and mero right there, ladies and gentlemen! [ cheers and applause ] ♪ that is our show tonight. thanks for watching, everybody. i hope to see you tomorrow! bye-bye, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ at least there are only 15 winter sports, i was getting 5 afraid there. the u.s. team so close to making it to the semifine will as, playing the czech republic, the game ended seven minutes ago, 2-2 through three periods, through a 10 minute overtime. they go to a shootout, only one goal scored by the czech republic. the u.s. had opportunities to get on the board, that was in the second of five shots. stopped in their first four, and butler misses the net on that fifth. and the czech republic moves on to the semifinal. the u.s. run comes to an end. no national hockey league players, the quality of this

tournament not the same we've come used to seeing over the last several olympic games. for intensity, competition and passion, this u.s. team showed quite well. czech republic will play the winner of norway against the olympic athletes of russia. that's coming up on nbc sn. the oar team is the team that's most likely to make it to the gold medal. at least they're the favorite at this point. and we were this close to seeing usa and oar in the gold medal game. in the pacific, the encore comes after your local news. for all of you keep it on your nbc station. because the olympics continue from south korea.

♪ ♪ >> one, two, three, four. >> i feel like i've overcome just about everything. i've been thrn a lot of obstacles and i always come back stronger. >> lindsey vonn is an idol. thinking that i've beaten her is unbelievable to me. it will be a great fight. >> what keeps me motivated on a daily basis is that gold medal. i want it so bad i can taste it. >> these two women have been the epitome of what it means to

persevere. if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it. >> i want to sprint faster, jump higher, do it better every day. >> we didn't come here to play. we came here to sleigh. shaun white, double gold. >> lindsey vonn! >> she wins gold for the u.s.! >> we say good morning from pyeongchang and welcome you to tonight's prime time broadcast presented by united health care. up in the mountains, lindsey vonn will soon be on the slopes trying on win gold in this event for the second time in her career.

meanwhile back down at sea level, only a few minutes away from the ladies' short figure skating program, with bradie just about to take the ice. in about an hour, we'll take you to live down hill. lindsey vonn is one of the favorites. this is both skaters' signature event. vonn defeated her in two straight world cup races. and two medalists. plus some action from short track. right now with the ladies' short program with to begin, let's get out there live.

>> i expect a very solid performance. she is unfazed. she came out of nowhere three and a half months ago and has taken american skating by storm. the individual adds the extra layer of pressure. >> at the end of the evening, we have a terrific pair of russians. many people think will battle for the gold. >> the special thing about the rivalry, it transcends national bias. it is a rivalry for the entire world to applaud and get in after. what makes them so great is their technical abilities

combined with beautiful artistry. it is going to come down to the prestige of medvedeva and the strategy of zagitova. >> terry gannon will join them, and we'll get you out to bradie tennell, the u.s. champ, skating live as we begin our coverage right after this. >> announcer: the xxiii olympic winter games on nbc are brought to you by chevy. the most awarded and fastest growing brand the last four years overall. by dunkin donuts coffee. america runs on dunkin. by samsung. do what you can't. and by visa. use visa to shop for team usa official gear now. have you ever had car trouble in a place like this? (semi-truck noise) yes and it was like the worst experience of my life. seven lanes of traffic and i was in the second lane. when i get into my car, i wanna know

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