Banned from competing under their national flag, the Olympic Athletes from Russia looked destined to fail to win gold. But 15-year-old figure skater Alina Zagitova tore away a veil of neutrality with an historic triumph.
"My hands were shaking, but my body was doing everything I'd trained to do," said Zagitova. "I can't believe I am the champion."
Both Zagitova and Medvedeva recorded an incredible 156.65 points for a rare tie in the free skate. But Zagitova took gold because she had beaten Medvedeva in the short program with a world-record score of 82.92 two days earlier, giving her a combined total of 239.57.
Zagitova had set a new world record in the short program 48 hours earlierImage: Reuters/L. Nicholson
The sporting brilliance aside, the result carried a deeper significance. It was a flagship one-two for the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR), and the first gold of these Winter Games for the country that hosted them in Sochi four years ago.
Hundreds of Russian fans celebrated in the Gangneung Ice Arena, waving their national flag. But when Zagitova and Medvedeva are presented with their medals, it will be the Olympic anthem that is played, not the Russian one. And it will be the Olympic flag that is raised, not the Russian tricolor.
Memorable moments at the Winter Games
The Pyeongchang Olympics are underway and there are medals up for grabs. Athletes from around the world will skate, ski and bobsleigh their way into Olympic history. Here are some of the best moments from the Games.
Image: Reuters/P. Kopczynski
The curtain falls
The Games come to a close with a two-hour closing ceremony that saw spectators treated to a show of bright lights, dancing and pop music. The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, used his speech to praise athletes from both South and North Korea, who competed as a united team at these Games, for demonstrating their belief in "a peaceful future."
Image: Reuters/K. Hong-Ji
Over the line
The puck crosses the line in the Olympic gold-medal match between Russia and Germany, the underdogs who surprised everyone by reaching the final. On this occasion, Germany's goalkeeper Danny Aus could do nothing to stop Nikita Gusev from scoring for the Russians.
Image: Reuters/B. Bennett
Restoring Russian pride
Alina Zagitova stunned her training partner, teammate and world No. 1 Evgenia Medvedeva to take gold in the ladies’ singles figure skating. A record score from the 15-year-old in the short program proved the difference as both scored 156.65 in the free skate. The result meant a first gold for the Olympic Athletes from Russia team and could herald the start of a skating rivalry for the ages.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
A medal sweep
Things couldn't have gone any better for Germany in the men's nordic combined, as Johannes Rydzek took gole, Fabian Riessle silver, and Eric Frenzel captured the bronze medal to complete the sweep.
Image: Reuters/C. Barria
Record-setting performance
Canada's Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue broke the world record in ice dancing total points with a dynamic, brilliant free dance to win the gold medal at the Pyeongchang Games on Tuesday. The pair also took gold in Vancouver in 2010 and silver in Sochi in 2014.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Antonov
Golden moment shared
Germany's Francesco Friedrich and brakeman Thorsten Margis thought they had won the gold medal in the two-man bobsleigh. Then Canadians Justin Kripps and Alexander Kopacz turned in an overall time that was exactly the same - meaning that the two teams shared this golden moment - and the medals that went with it.
Image: Reuters/A, Wiegmann
A winning crash
German pilot Nico Walther set a confident gold-medal pace in the opening heats of the men's two-man bobsleigh competition, with he and brakeman crossing the line with a combined time of 38.39 seconds. However, the Germans took the final curve a bit too quickly, causing their sleigh to overturn as they hurtled across the finish line with their helmets scraping along the wall of the ice track.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/M. Sohn
Down and out
German's Sinan Akdag was left face down on the ice after taking a check to the head by Tommy Kristiansen of Norway during the second period of their preliminary round game, which the Germans went on to win in a penalty shootout - their first win at the Olympics since Salt Lake City in 2002. Akdag was unable to continue in the match and Kristiansen was handed a game misconduct for the offense.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/M. Slocum
South Korean superhero
Yun Sungbin won gold in the men's skeleton, to the delight of the home crowd. It was the host country's second gold of the Games, and only their third overall, but Sungbin delivered a supernatural performance to blow away the field. Perhaps his Iron Man helmet played a role?
Image: Reuters/A. Wiegmann
A golden world record
German figure skaters Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot were overcome by emotions after they completed a flawless free program. The two not only won gold, but set a new free-program world record in the process, winning Germany's first gold in the pairs since 1952.
Image: picture-alliance/ZUMAPRESS/J. Huanzong
Controversial bronze
Teammate Marianne St.-Gelias (right) almost seems happier than Kim Boutin seconds after the Canadian learned that she had won the bronze meal in women's speedskating on the 500-meter short track. Boutin was awarded bronze after South Korean Choi Min Jeong was disqualified for interference. However, the home fans - and many others -felt that it was actually Boutin who had committed the offense.
Image: picture alliance/empics/P. Chiasson
Dahlmeier double
Germany's Laura Dahlmeier seals her second gold medal at the Winter Games, this time in the biathlon 10km pursuit. She is the first woman to win the sprint-pursuit double after her victory in the 7.5km sprint on Day 1.
Image: Reuters/M. Sezer
Anderson repeats!
Reigning Olympic champion Jamie Anderson survived treacherous conditions which disrupted the crash-filled women's slopestyle snowboarding event to successfully defend her Olympic title on Monday.
Image: Reuters/M. Blake
Nagasu makes history
Mirai Nagasu became the first American woman to land a triple axel at the Olympics as the United States won bronze in the team free skate.
Image: Reuters/D. Sagolj
Frimpong flying
Former bobsleigher Akwasi Frimpong becomes Ghana's first ever athlete to compete at the Olympics in skeleton.
Red Gerard, just 17 years old, sealed an incredible Olympic gold in the men's slopestyle, the United States' first in Pyeongchang. Gerard crashed out on his first two runs but his third and final was an absolute beauty, handing him an unlikely victory.
Image: picture-alliance/MAXPPP
Golden tears
Andreas Wellinger, 22, could not contain his joy after winning gold in men's normal hill ski jumping. It is already his second gold medal in his career as he won gold in the team long hill ski jumping event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/D. Karmann
Fan coordination
North Korean short track speed skater Choe Un Song had a red sea of support behind him as he competed in the Men's 3000m. Unfortunately for the traveling North Korean troup, Choe failed to advance to the semifinals, racing just once.
Image: picture alliance/AP/J. Jacobson
Snowboard to super-G(old)
In one of the most remarkable Olympic finishes ever, Czech snowboarder Ester Ledecka won gold in the women's Super-G by 0.01 seconds. Having crossed the line, Ledecka looked shocked at her time. "How did that happen," the television cameras overheard her say.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/C. Ena
Hanyu makes history
A three-month layoff with a knee injury had cast doubts over Japanese superstar Yuzuru Hanyu's appearance at the Olympics. But the "Ice Prince" became the first man to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in men's singles figure skating since 1952.
Image: Reuters/D. Sagolj
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Russia banned over state-sponsored doping
The two ice princesses are among 168 athletes from Russia competing as neutrals under the OAR banner after the Russian Olympic Committee was banned by the International Olympic Commitee (IOC) over state-sponsored doping.
Their triumph was the highlight of the games for many in Russia, who feel a deep sense of injustice over the doping controversy and its consequences. The Winter Olympics have long been a source of success, pride and prestige for Russia.
"It doesn't matter what the circumstances are," said Medvedeva, who had previously stated she could not imagine competing in Pyeongchang without the Russian flag. "People know who we are and the spectators in the stands proved that today."
Golden girl Alina Zagitova had every right to jump for joy on the podium, flanked by silver medalist Evgenia Medvedva and Canadian bronze medalist Kaetlyn OsmondImage: Reuters/P. Noble
Two OARs test positive
Russia has always denied having a state-sponsored doping system but just this week, a Russian curler and his mixed doubles teammate were stripped of his bronze medal after he tested positive for a banned substance. On Friday, the president of the Russian bobsleigh federation admitted that an OAR bobsledder had also tested positive for a substance on the banned list.
The IOC is to decide on Saturday whether to relax the ban, which could allow Russian athletes to march behind their flag at the closing ceremony. If they do, Alina Zagitova will surely take pride of place.