Christina Gao’s Olympic hopes end in US Championships

BOSTON — Cincinnati native and Sycamore High School graduate Christina Gao fell short of qualifying for Sochi when she had two falls and one missed jump during her free skate routine.

Gao, 19, was sixth after Thursday’s short program, but slid to eighth Saturday. Gao had finished fifth at the U.S. Championships the past four years.

Gracie Gold won her first U.S. figure skating title Saturday night and all but guaranteed herself a spot at the Olympics.

Still to be decided is who joins her in Sochi after two-time defending champ Ashley Wagner finished a distant fourth after a mistake-marred free skate.

Fifteen-year-old Polina Edmunds was second, and 2010 Olympian Mirai Nagasu was third in a resurgent performance. U.S. Figure Skating officials will announce Sunday which three women go to the Winter Games, taking into account past performances.

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