For figure skating devotees, the long-awaited showdown between Russian superstars Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva for Olympic gold probably felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event. But we actually saw an American version of this moment of truth 20 years ago, and the outcome was almost exactly the same.
Back then, in 1998 at the Nagano Olympics, 15-year-old Tara Lipinski narrowly defeated the universally favored and more experienced Michelle Kwan. Prior to Friday, it was the last time two skaters from the same country went 1-2 in the women's final.
Friday it played out the same way, as the 15-year-old Zagitova's free skate had just enough elegance, flair and difficulty to hold off her 18-year-old compatriot.