Breaking: Carpentersville's Bradie Tennell finishes 9th at Olympics

GANGNEUNG, South Korea – Scattered mistakes in an otherwise strong free skate program for Bradie Tennell prevented the Carpentersville resident from rallying for a medal Thursday night in the women’s individual event after an 11th place finish in Tuesday’s short program.

Skating to Patrick Doyle’s “Cinderella Medley,” Tennell completed a triple toe loop and double jump, but she stumbled with extra steps on a triple jump and triple lutz en route to a score of 128.34 in Thursday’s women’s free skate. That score, almost nine points short of Tennell’s season-best in the program, earned her a ninth-place finish among Thursday’s 24 skaters and ninth overall when combined with Tuesday’s short program.

“I just got a little twisted up,” Tennell, 20, said of the extra steps in two jumps Thursday. “It could have been more smooth.”

Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia, competing under a neutral flag, took gold and silver in the event. Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada won bronze.

Tennell’s U.S. teammates, Mirai Nagasu and Karen Chen, finished 10th and 11th. The final results marked the worst finish ever for the U.S. women figure skaters in the individual event. Since 1945, at least one U.S. woman had finished in sixth place or better.

Tennell posted a season-best score of 68.94 points in her 2-minute, 50-second short program Feb. 10, contributing to the U.S. earning bronze in the team event. But she struggled in this week’s individual routines, falling to the ice for the first time all season during a triple lutz attempt Tuesday.

Tennell, had been the world’s most consistent woman skater this season with 34 straight performances without a fall. She described Thursday’s stumbles as “uncharacteristic.”

Speaking after the free skate, Tennell added she’ll leave her debut Olympics with her “head held high” after earning a medal in the team event.

“I didn’t finish as well as I’d have liked to, but it was a great experience,” she said. “It’s an honor to represent my country.”

Tennell said she plans to stay in
Pyeongchang through the Games' closing ceremonies Sunday and again walk with the U.S. delegation.

Medvedeva seemed well on her way to Olympic gold as she went unbeaten for two seasons. But she battled a cracked bone in her right foot this season and Zagitova emerged, eventually surpassing Medvedeva.

Medvedeva had set a world mark in the short program, and a few minutes later her countrywoman beat it. The difference in the short program wound up being the margin between gold and silver.

On Thursday, Zagitova went first, greeted by chants and cheers from the Russian fans desperate for that first gold.

She nailed everything with fluid flair and technical brilliance. Zagitova earned 156.65 points for her program to “Don Quixote,” laying down the challenge for her countrywoman.

Medvedeva matched it, but that was not enough.

“I wanted to leave everything out there on the ice,” she said. “I’ve got no regrets.”

Osmond had considered retiring earlier. Now, she skates away from South Korea with a bronze medal.

“I felt strong and in the best shape that I’ve ever been in my entire life, she said. “I can’t believe that I ever thought about retiring.”

• The Associated Press contributed to this report.