Just moving your feet on an ice rink is an achievement for most people, so imagine how figure skater Mirai Nagasu feels today after becoming the first American female to land a triple axel on Monday at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
Competing in the women's individual in the team event, the 24-year-old nailed the impressive move, becoming only the third woman in Olympic history to ever achieve it.
If you don't know (because, let's face it, we didn't), an axel is a forward-facing jump in which the skater takes off from a forward outside edge and rotates in the air, explains NBC.
A single axel is one-and-a-half rotations — a triple axel is three-and-a-half.
In other words, it's blummin' hard.
Fortunately, Nagasu received full credit for the jump, which is worth 8.50 points.
The trick isn't the only thing that has people talking - just look at Nagasu's reaction to the impressive stunt.
Unsurprisingly, Nagasu wasn't the only one impressed with her stunt.
To understand just how rare the triple axel is, here's an indication:
In an interview following her skate, the star said: 'It is definitely history, or her-story, whatever way you want to say it.'
When question what she was thinking of in the moments before achieving the move, Nagasu later told reporters: 'No, girl, you are not going to fall.'
Following the jump, Nagasu said she wasn't able to celebrate just yet, admitting: 'I was like, "I still have one more jump". It was a nice little giggle at the end.
'I am very fortunate that I'm American so I'm the first US lady,' Nagasu added. 'This is a journey that started with me wanting to become better and improve and change myself. It doesn't happen immediately. It was rough … I would have dreams that I could do this jump, then I would try it on ice and I would fall.
'But I knew in my heart this day would come.'
Congratulations, Nagasu!
Watch her impressive move here.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
