Evgenia Medvedeva may have conjured up a personal best score on her Olympic bow on Sunday but the Russian ice princess proved a harsher critic of herself than the judges. The two-time world champion boosted Russia's medal chances in the team event behind commanding leaders Canada but just as crucially gave her own prospects of claiming the women's singles crown a potent boost.
With the defending champions struggling after Mikhail Kolyada flopped in his men's short programme on Friday, Medevedeva put the team competing as neutrals under the Olympic Athletes from Russia flag, back in business. After Sunday's concluding pairs free dance Canada, silver medallists in Sochi four years ago, led on 45 points from Medvedeva's OAR on 39 with the United States in third on 36.
The 18-year-old Muscovite was poised, polished and foot perfect in her short programme to Chopin's Nocturne. With Russian flags waving in the stands the judges rewarded her routine which began with a triple flip - triple toeloop combination with a career best 81.06.
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