The History Behind Mirai Nagasu's Olympic Triple Axel

Olympic history was made on Monday in Pyeongchang, South Korea — Mirai Nagasu became the first American woman, and the third woman ever, to land a triple axel at the Olympics.

Nagasu landed the jump, which requires three-and-a-half rotations in the air, during the figure-skating team competition.

Nagasu is the eighth woman overall, and the second American, to land the triple axel in international competition. The other American was Tonya Harding, who famously never landed the triple axel in the Olympics.

This is a triumph four years in the making for Nagasu. She was left off Team USA for the Sochi games in 2014 despite a third-place finish at the national championships, something she admits was heartbreaking.

Nagasu won a bronze medal with the U.S. in the team event; the women's individual competition is still to come.