Winter Olympics 2018: Duhamel, Radford in third place after pairs short program

Rudi Schuller

Winter Olympics 2018: Duhamel, Radford in third place after pairs short program image

A gold medal already in hand, Canadian figure skaters Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford sit in third spot after the pairs short program at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The duo was part of the Canadian team that claimed the country's first gold medal in Pyeongchang earlier this week, and they followed that up with a strong performance in the pairs short to remain in medal contention after the first event.

Duhamel and Radford earned a 76.82 score, with Sui Wenjing and Han Cong from China (82.39) and Olympic Athletes from Russia pair Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov (81.68) the only two teams to pick up higher scores on the night.

Off the ice, Duhamel didn't get off to the greatest start. In a pair of lighthearted tweets, the 32-year-old shared her ordeal in the hours leading up to her arrival at the venue. Included in her mishaps were an unfortunately dropped mobile device and some friendly help from a rival skater.

Despite the rocky road travelled by Duhamel ahead of the short program, she and Radford were able to execute a clean skate. Performing to a cover of U2's "With or Without You" by American singer April Meservy, the Canadian duo was technically strong in executing the skate without any deductions.

Nearly six points back of the leading pair, the Canadians will attempt to clinch a medal in the free skate at 8:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.

Duhamel and Radford, the seven-time reigning Canadian champions and two-time former world title holders, could be calling it a career after Pyeongchang. With just the free skate left, the pair is looking to end on a high note.

"This is potentially our last program of our competitive career," Radford told the CBC. "We just want to make the most of it."

Canada has two other pairs competing in the free skate. Julianne Séguin and Charlie Bilodeau sit in 12th after the short program, while Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro are one spot being in 13th. Neither team is expected to challenge for a medal.

Rudi Schuller