After bailing out the U.S. team on Thursday, Ramona-raised pairs skater Chris Knierim and his wife Alexa Scimeca-Knierim performed well enough in the pairs free skate to keep the U.S. in medal contention at the XXIII Winter Olympics Games on Saturday.
Chris Knierim fell on the pair’s side-by-side triple toe combination, a move that’s has been given them trouble all season long. The Knierims’ strong triple twist and lifts were enough to finish in the fourth place, their tight throw jumps notwithstanding.
“It wasn’t a brilliant skate by any means, but we are just so happy to be here,” Scimeca-Knierim said. “We’ve already won by being able to step on the ice; this is great!”
The Knierims added 7 points to the U.S. team’s score. A first-place finish is worth 10 points, with each place further down worth one less.
The couple had a season-best score of 69.75 to finish fourth in Thursday’s short program.
Team Canada continues to lead the pack with 45 points, followed by Athletes from Russia (39), the U.S. (36), Italy (35) and Japan (32).
Knierim and Scimeca-Knierim are the only U.S. pairs team at the Pyeongchang Games. The U.S. was allowed to enter only one pairs team because of results in the 2017 World Championships.
The two were considered to be the weakest link on Team USA but ended up bailing the U.S. out on Thursday after Nathan Chen uncharacteristically fell during his short program and ended placing in fourth place.
Saturday was the final segment of the team event for the Knierims. The team event will conclude Sunday in Gangneung, South Korea with men’s and ladies free skates and the ice dance free dance.
The Knierims won’t skate again until Wednesday in the pairs short program.
