Nagasu, 24, put the jump at the beginning of her 4 1/2 minute routine Monday, landing flawlessly on one foot. She scored a total score of 137.53, a personal best, the Associated Press reported.
A performance for the record books by Mirai Nagasu, complete with a celebration we'll remember for a long time. #BestOfUS #WinterOlympics https://t.co/NsNuy9F46h pic.twitter.com/ew8YKEYGzc
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2018
"It's historical and something no one can take away from me," Nagasu told the Washington Post. "I wanted to make America proud."
Credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos
Credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos
Midori Ito and Mao Asada, both from Japan, are the only other women to land the jump at the Olympics, according to Yahoo News.
Related: 2018 Winter Olympics: Who is Mirai Nagasu?
The triple axel is more challenging than a typical jump because it requires the skater to make three and a half rotations in the air, not just three.
"HOLY COW!" You just witnessed a historic triple axel from Mirai Nagasu. #WinterOlympics https://t.co/NsNuy9F46h pic.twitter.com/jCMTb4LtXv
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2018
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