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U.S. builds momentum at figure skating world championships

American Gracie Gold was in first place after the women's short program at the figure skating world championships in Boston on Thursday.

American Gracie Gold was in first place after the women’s short program at the figure skating world championships in Boston on Thursday.

(Geoff Robins / AFP/Getty Images)
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This could be a special world championships for American figure skaters.

Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner head into the women’s long program on Saturday with strong chances to medal. Maybe they’ll take some momentum from what their teammates did on Thursday night.

While Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France became the first ice dance couple to repeat as champions since 2007, U.S. couples won silver and bronze at TD Garden in Boston.

It marked just the third time that the United States has earned multiple medals in ice dance at a world championships.

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Maia and Alex Shibutani, siblings from nearby Connecticut, took second and Madison Chock and Evan Bates were third.

“It was wonderful to skate here in front of the home crowd,” Bates said. “The audience really helped us to pour our emotions into the program.”

Gold and Wagner stood in first and fourth place, respectively, after the women’s short program.

The men’s free skate and pairs short program are scheduled for Friday.

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