Gracie Gold in position to break U.S. drought at world figure skating championships

Not since 2006 has an American woman stood on the podium for the world figure skating championships.

That could change this week.

Gracie Gold turned in one of the best performances of her career to grab first place in the short program and U.S. teammate Ashley Wagner is in fourth.

“We’re only halfway through, but I can kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel that maybe the drought is ending, and that would be amazing,” Gold said.

Competing at TD Garden in her hometown, the Boston native will try to stay on top of a tightly bunched leaderboard in Saturday’s long program.

Anna Pogorilaya and Evgenia Medvedeva, both of Russia, are in second and third, respectively.

The last time the American women’s contingent medaled in individual competition, Kimmie Meissner won gold and Sasha Cohen took bronze.

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