Russian Sotnikova Wins Gold Medal in Figure Skating

Bursting from the shadow of her adored teammate, Adelina Sotnikova gave Russia its first gold medal in women's Olympic figure skating.While much-heralded Julia Lipnitskaia was stumbling, the 17-year-old Sotnikova soared. When she won the free skate Thursday at the Sochi Games, she denied South Korea's Yuna Kim from defending her title and confirmed Russian command of the sport.The Russians have won three figure skating gold medals at these Olympics: team, pairs and women's.Only this latest one was a surprise. A huge surprise.Going into the Games, Sotnikova was overshadowed by the rematch narrative between Kim and Japan's Mao Asada, the 2010 silver medalist. The 2014 Games were to be Asada's second chance at gold, and because she can execute the triple axel, she posed a threat.But on Wednesday, she failed to land the triple axel in her short program, putting her in 16th place and well out of medal contention. It was ground she couldn't make up Thursday night, even though she landed a clean and thrilling triple axel in her free skate.Sotnikova wasn't even the leading contender from her own country. That distinction went to Julia Lipnitskaya, the 15 year-old wonder who ultimately came in fifth after stumbling both in her short and long programs.Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov added a gold in pairs, becoming the first skaters to win two Olympic titles in one games and reviving Russia's grand tradition in the discipline. Russia had won a pairs gold at every games from 1964 to 2006, but left Vancouver without a pairs medal of any color.The men's final was, quite frankly, a mess. But Yuzuru Hanyu rallied after two early falls and that, plus his mesmerizing short program, was enough to win the gold and give Japan its first Olympic title in men's skating. There was another first in ice dancing, as Meryl Davis and Charlie White became the first American team to win the Olympic title. Not bad for a country that didn't even have afterthought status a decade ago.