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Proving that old adage, “you just never know,” who among those that attended a Colorado Avalanche during the 2015-16 season would have guessed that one of the ice girls would go on to make history at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang?
Which is exactly what happened when Team USA figure skater Mirai Nagasu became the first American woman to successfully land a triple axel during Olympic competition.
That’s right, Nagasu went from cleaning the ice at the Pepsi Center in Denver to winning a medal in the Gangneung Ice Arena in South Korea.
Here she is landing that historic triple axel which helped win a bronze medal for Team USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvEFtNYVQVI?start=205
Naturally, the people back in Colorado were very thrilled that one of their own (Nagasu is originally from Arcadia, California, but moved to Colorado Springs in 2014 to train) was having such success at the Winter Olympics. Denver’s 9News was the first to congratulate her on her journey from Avs ice girl to making history.
Before @mirai_nagasu was landing triple axels, she was a @Avalanche Ice Girl during the 2015-16 season. #9Sports pic.twitter.com/8tTd8NgyLM
— 9NEWS Sports Denver (@9NEWSSports) February 12, 2018
Nagasu quickly saw the tweet and responded with the perfect, and logical, reply.
Gotta pay for skating somehow! 😂 https://t.co/bzapKJb5fM
— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 12, 2018
“You used to clean the ice, now you own it, ” appropriately wrote one Twitter commenter.
Later in the day, the Colorado Avalanche also sent well wishes to their former employee.
Mirai Nagasu is the first ever American woman to land a triple axel in Olympic competition.
And it was so, so awesome. #GoAvsGo https://t.co/nvNOlTO5Jw
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 12, 2018
Of course, the Avs ice girls were already well aware, a month before the Winter Olympics, that they had someone special to root for in PyeongChang.
Congratulations to our former Ice Girl Mirai on qualifying for the #WinterOlympics!
Good luck in South Korea! #BestOfUS pic.twitter.com/S71FH71EiO
— Avs Ice Patrol (@AvsIcePatrol) January 6, 2018
In addition to already earning a medal at the Olympic Games, the 24-year-old Nagasu has been righteously fangirling on social media over some of the attention she’s gotten from celebrities.
Wow!! @mirai_nagasu is making history !! 🌟#OlympicWinterGames https://t.co/bmlo2Pjjpy
— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) February 12, 2018
I watched Home Again on the way to the Olympics and I know it’s a movie but I wished you were my mom. You’re my hero. ❤️ https://t.co/LRHEMEXroE
— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 12, 2018
My #MondayMotivation is @mirai_nagasu, the first American woman to land a triple axel at the Olympics. Heading to the gym to start working on it!! pic.twitter.com/DMCsDaPpI4
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) February 12, 2018
As a @bigbangtheory enthusiast, this is the coolest! I’m dying of happiness. ⛸ https://t.co/54BzwpHhiR
— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 12, 2018
Yes!! @NBCOlympics @Olympics pic.twitter.com/eL4fqTTKGd
— Leslie Jones 🦋 (@Lesdoggg) February 12, 2018
When will I get to meet you? https://t.co/jPOlwrbtgs
— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 12, 2018
Shiiiiit like to see you give her a bad score!!! @NBCOlympics @Olympics pic.twitter.com/0krtijP4vb
— Leslie Jones 🦋 (@Lesdoggg) February 12, 2018
Omg I wish I was a bamf like you @Lesdoggg https://t.co/7ZfQ3NMNCz
— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 13, 2018
Awesome.