Rachel Treisman

Rachel Treisman, NPR News, Milan.

The three-day team event pits the top 10 skating countries against each other, but it was the U.S.

and Japan battling most closely for gold.

Team USA led in the first two days, but sometimes by just one or two points.

The U.S.

and Japan headed into the final event, the men's free skate, locked in a tie.

In the end, it was Ilya Malinin's quad stacked program that propelled Team USA to the top of the podium for the second Olympics in a row.

Figure skating competitions continue this week, starting with ice dance and men's singles.

Rachel Treisman, NPR News, Milan.

The three-day event is a chance for the top 10 ranked countries to bring home a skating medal and for the world to get to know some of the biggest names in women's, men's, pairs, and ice dance.

As of Friday, the U.S.

is in the lead, thanks to strong performances from Alyssa Liu and ice dancers Madison Chalk and Evan Bates.

But Japan and Italy are close behind, and there are still two more days of competition to go.

The team event resumes Saturday with more ice dance and the men's short program, where U.S.

gold medal favorite Ilya Malinin will make his Olympic debut.

Rachel Treisman, NPR News, Milan.

The three-day event is a chance for the top 10 ranked countries to bring home a skating medal and for the world to get to know some of the biggest names in women's, men's, pairs and ice dance.

As of Friday, the U.S.

is in the lead, thanks to strong performances from Alyssa Liu and ice dancers Madison Chalk and Evan Bates.

But Japan and Italy are close behind, and there are still two more days of competition to go.