See Ami Nakai's Triple Axel in the Olympics Figure Skating Short Program

Only two skaters landed triple axels, the most difficult jump attempted in the short program of the women’s Olympic figure skating competition on Tuesday.

Ami Nakai, 17, of Japan took advantage of a roughly five-point edge that a triple axel gave her over her competitors’ double axels, to finish in first place with 78.71 points, her career best. Her triple axel — which requires a forward takeoff and 3½ revolutions in the air — brought her 9.71 points, a deciding factor in her routine.

Amber Glenn, 26, the three-time and reigning United States champion, also landed a triple axel and was skating confidently until she made a startling mistake on her required solo triple jump, completing only a…