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3 to Watch: Gold for White, Shiffrin on Standby and Figure Skating Pairs Take the Ice

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Another big day in store at the 2018 Winter Olympics, with some big names looking for gold.

Here are some of the highlights to look out for: 

1. Back on Top: Shaun White Wins Halfpipe Gold

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Clive Mason/Getty Images
Shaun White of USA looks on during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on Feb. 9, 2018, in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Team USA's Shaun White held off a strong field Wednesday and soared to victory in the men's halfpipe competition in Pyeongchang. White’s gold medal marks the 100th for Team USA in its history of competing at the Winter Olympics.

Japan’s Ayumu Hirano took the silver, while Australia’s Scotty James earned the bronze.

White earned gold in Turin in 2006 and Vancouver in 2010, but didn't even crack the top three in Sochi. That outcome haunted him at times before he hit reset last summer and pointed to South Korea.

In qualifying, White exhaled after putting up a 93.75 on his first run, ensuring a spot in the finals. He later topped his own score with a 98.5.

> White Wins USA's 100th Gold Medal in Winter Games
> Interactive Panorama: Shaun White in the Halfpipe
> Photos: Shaun White Through the Years
> Photos: USA Medal Winners So Far

2. The Knierims Advance to Pairs Figure Skating Final

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Courtesy of Trevisan family via AP
Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim competing in the pairs portion of the team skating event.

Team USA’s lone entry in pairs’ figure skating, Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim, finished the short program portion of the competition in 14th place Wednesday morning at Gangneung Ice Arena. The score qualified them for the next stage, free skate, set for Thursday morning.

Skating to “Come What May” from “Moulin Rouge!” the Knierims scored a 65.55 — 34.18 for their technical score and 31.37 for performance. They were the 13th of 22 pairs to skate, with the top 16 advancing to the final.

It has been a busy first week in Pyeongchang for the husband and wife team. As the only U.S. pair, the Knierims skated both the short program and free skate in the figure skating team event, in which Team USA took bronze.

> Read the full story here

3. Mikaela Shiffrin Finally Set to Ski (If the Wintry Weather Cooperates)

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Shutterstock
Skier Mikaela Shiffrin on Feb. 10 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.

UDPDATE: Event has been postponed due to weather, again, until Friday

Two days later than expected, Mikaela Shiffrin will make her Pyeongchang debut on Wednesday morning (Tuesday night in the U.S.).

After the giant slalom race was postponed due to dangerous winds Monday, Shiffrin will first ski in her signature event, the slalom. Shiffrin was the youngest-ever Olympic slalom champion at the Sochi Games at age 18, and she's the first woman to win three consecutive slalom world titles in 78 years. She hopes to become the first person to win the slalom gold medal twice in a row.

This will be Shiffrin’s first race of a busy schedule — she’ll be back on the mountain Thursday morning (Wednesday night in the U.S.) for the giant slalom. Skiing two races in two days shouldn’t be a problem for Shiffrin — World Cup races are often held on consecutive days. She is the favorite for a medal in slalom and giant slalom — and she might add the other three individual women’s races to her Pyeongchang itinerary.

Lindsey Vonn, another standout American skier, will not compete in the slalom.

How to Watch: Tune in live on NBC, with coverage beginning at 5 p.m. PT, or on digital platforms here.

And catch the finals starting at 8:45 p.m. PT on NBC or on digital platforms here.

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