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3 to Watch: Russian Prodigy Wins Gold in Ladies' Figure Skating, Fremont's Karen Chen Finishes 11th

Primetime coverage begins at 5 p.m. on NBC on the West Coast

Tune in to for NBC's LIVE primetime coverage of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics beginning at 5 p.m. on the West Coast. Not near a TV? You can also catch it on your phone or computer right here.

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Here are the events to watch for:

UPDATED: Russians Battle for Gold in Ladies' Figure Skating Final; Bay Area's Karen Chen Finishes 11th

The women’s free skate was billed to be a battle of the Russians and it lived up to the hype.

Alina Zagitova capped her meteoric rise with Olympic women’s figure skating gold, topping fellow Russian skater Evgenia Medvedeva Friday. The 15-year-old Zagitova led Medvedeva by 1.31 points after the short program and delivered a stunning free skate. Medvedeva matched her free skate -- both scored exactly 156.65 -- but that wasn't enough to catch up.

This is not the first time Zagitova has edged Medvedeva — Medvedeva had not lost a competition in more than two years before Zagitova beat her at this year’s European Championships.

Canada’s Kaetlyn Osmond won bronze.

The three American figure skaters — Karen Chen of Fremont, Bradie Tennell and Mirai Nagasu — all stumbled at various points in their free skates. Tennell finished ninth, Nagasu 10th and Chen 11th.

MORE: Russians Get First Gold Thanks to 15-Year-Old Skater Zagitova 
MORE: This Is What Karen Chen Does Before Every Performance
PHOTOS: Get to Know Your NorCal Athletes Competing in PyeongChang
MORE: Scott Hamilton Has High Praise for US Women's Figure Skaters
MORE: 'Shy Kid' Karen Chen Has a Plan for Fighting Off Nerves
VIDEO: Karen, Kristi and Matcha Green Tea Lattes
PHOTOS: Karen Chen's Childhood Photos
VIDEO: Karen Chen's Special Jade Necklace

How to Watch: See it all unfold live during NBC’s primetime coverage beginning at 5 p.m. PT Thursday or on digital platforms here.  

UPDATED: Canada Takes Gold and Silver in Women's Ski Cross Final

US Grand Prix Freestyle Skicross
Rick Bowmer/AP
Marielle Thompson, of Canada, competes during qualifications in a U.S. Grand Prix women's freestyle skicross event Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in Solitude, Utah.

Even without its Sochi star, Canada dominated the women’s ski cross final, with Kelsey Serwa winning gold and Brittany Phelan taking silver.

Three-time Olympian Fanny Smith of Switzerland edged out Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund to earn bronze. Smith finished in the top 10 in the last two Games.

Serwa, who won silver in Sochi, faced a major setback in December 2016 when she damaged cartilage in her knee in a training accident, cutting her season short. She came back for the 2017-18 season with a vengeance, placing third at the World Cup season opener in Val Thorens, France.

Canadian Marielle Thompson failed to make it to the quarterfinal after an early crash. Thompson won gold in the event in Sochi, but in October she ruptured her ACL and MCL ligaments in a training accident. Her Pyeongchang appearance came only four months after having her knee surgically repaired — her first serious runs since the accident were just days before the ski cross final.

No Americans contended for a medal.

3. France’s Greatest Olympian Aims for Another Gold

In Pyeongchang, Martin Fourcade has established himself as France’s most successful Olympian ever.

When he anchored the mixed biathlon relay team to a come-from-behind victory on Tuesday, he became only the second athlete from France to win three gold medals at a single Winter Games. His five gold medals overall — the mixed relay, a photo finish in the 15-kilometer mass start and the 12.5-kilometer pursuit, plus gold in the individual and pursuit events in 2014 — are the most ever by a Frenchman.

He has a chance to add one more gold to the list, in the men’s 4x7.5km biathlon relay.

After Tuesday’s win, according to Reuters, he sent a message to French skier Mathieu Faivre, who was sent home by the French Alpine team for saying he did not care about the medals won by his teammates.

“I wanted this team medal, it’s such a different emotion from an individual medal,” he told French television. “This is an individual sport, and to win as a team is something beautiful, even if everyone cannot participate.”

In the final relay, France will face stiff competition from Norway, led by Johannes Thingnes Boe and Tarjei Boe. Germany and Austria could also be in contention.

How to Watch: See it live at 3:15 a.m. PT Friday on digital platforms here or watch during NBC’s daytime coverage Friday at 12 p.m. PT.

Latest Winter Olympics Headlines:
> Zagitova Wins Figure Skating Gold, Edges Medvedeva
> Karen Chen Frustrated, Disappointed With Olympic Results
> Mirai Nagasu Overcome With Tears, Joy Despite Solo Struggles
> Karen Chen Falters in Free Skate
> Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir to Host Olympics Closing Ceremony
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NorCal Athletes:
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> Meet Fremont's Karen Chen, Ladies' Figure Skater
> Meet Bay Area Bobsledder Nick Cunningham
> Where's Garvin? Tracking Our Intrepid Reporter's Adventures

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