Olympic Figure Skating Results 2014: U.S. in Position to Medal in Team Event

There was the fear for the United States that, coming into Saturday's team figure skating events, the team might not even qualify for the finals. After all, Jeremy Abbott had floundered in the men's short program, while Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir finished just fifth in the pairs skate.

But the tide changed quickly and decisively for the Americans on Saturday.

The ice-dancing pair, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, dominated their event, earning the United States 10 points. And then Ashley Wagner secured another seven points for the country in the women's short program, ensuring it would indeed reach the finals.

It wasn't her best showing, but it was a strong performance from Wagner nonetheless, and one she felt was perhaps judged a little harshly, as she told Nancy Armour of USA Today:

"

I know roughly when I skate a good program where the score should end up. … So yeah to score that low was very disappointing for me. But honestly this performance was more for myself and mentally getting beyond this past couple of weeks. And I wanted to do everything I could to help out the team, and I really feel that I delivered on that part.

"

From there, Castelli and Shnapir finished fourth out of five countries in the pairs long program, taking seven points—though the performance earned them a season-best 117.94 points, a mark to build upon when they compete again in the individual competition—but it hardly mattered, as the United States was in third place with three events to go. 

Mathematically eliminated from earning gold—Russia is running away with the thing—the United States seems likely to either earn a silver or bronze.

Davis and White will probably earn another 10 points, meaning the performances from Jason Brown (who could replace Abbott) in the men's free skate and Gracie Gold in the women's free skate will likely be the difference between silver and bronze. 

With a three-point cushion on Italy that should extend when Davis and White take the ice, it's extremely unlikely now that the United States will fail to medal. Well, save for catastrophic performances from Brown and Gold.

Gold is probably the best chance the United States will have at medaling in the individual men or women's events when the team competition concludes, so all eyes will be on the program she puts together for the team contest. 

Of course, Brown's "Riverdance" program might be the most entertaining event we'll see. Whether that translates with the judges is another story altogether, but expect Brown to become a fast favorite of the Sochi crowd.

No matter what transpires, it's hard to image the United States failing to medal in this event. In a year when the United States isn't particularly strong, earning any medal in the team event is a great accomplishment.

For the full schedule of events, check out Sochi2014.com.