GANGNEUNG -- Figure skaters Satoko Miyahara and Kaori Sakamoto both achieved new personal bests in the women's short program on Wednesday, placing themselves within reach of the medal podium at the Pyeongchang Olympics.
Miyahara finished fourth at 75.94 points, 2.93 points behind Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond in third. Sakamoto followed Miyahara in fifth at 73.18.
The top two skaters gave outstanding performances -- Olympic Athlete from Russia Alina Zagitova set a new world record at 82.92, followed by compatriot Evgenia Medvedeva at 81.61.
Miyahara rebounded from a disappointing 68.95 in the short program of the team event held earlier at the Games. Skating after Medvedeva on Wednesday, Miyahara kept her composure as she pulled off all of her jumps.
"I was extremely nervous from beginning to end," Miyahara said. "I made no major mistakes -- I'm relieved I can keep my hope alive into the free skate."
"I'm very happy now," Sakamoto said, smiling. "I kept my concentration through to the end."
The free program will take place on Friday.
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