Former World Champion and reigning bronze medalist Mao Asada of Japan rebounded from a disappointing short program to claim the gold in the ladies event at the Four Continents Championship in Jeonju, Korea, with 183.96 points. Japan’s Akiko Suzuki (173.72) won the silver medal while the United States’ Caroline Zhang (160.78) captured the bronze. Amanda Dobbs was fourth and Alexe Gilles was ninth.

Fresh-off his fifth place finish at the 2010 U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash., Adam Rippon is in seventh place following a shaky short program at the Four Continents Championship in Jeonju, Korea. Kevin Reynolds of Canada captured the short program with a score of 81.60, improving his personal best by 14 points. China’s Nan Song (72.95) came in second ahead of American Brandon Mroz (70.88).

Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker handed in their best performance of the season Thursday at the Four Continents Championship in Jeonju, Korea. They won the silver medal behind China’s Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang (192.22 points), ending a season of disappointments for the two-time U.S. Champions on a high note.

At the Four Continents Championship in Jeonju, Korea, Alexe Gilles is in ninth place following troubles on two jumping passes, including a fall on the opening triple Lutz, and a time violation. Japan’s Akiko Suzuki (58.88 points), who will compete next month at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, grabbed the lead in the ladies short program with American Amanda Dobbs (57.56) and Japan’s Mao Asada (57.22) coming in second and third.

At the Four Continents Championships in Jeonju, Korea, Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker proved their mediocre performances at the 2010 U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash., were just a fluke. They took second in the short program to World silver medalists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang of China, who narrowly came out ahead, 65.86 points to 64.56.

All 15 skaters nominated to represent the United States at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, have been announced by U.S. Figure Skating. Selections are pending approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee, which will announce the official roster of the 2010 U.S. Olympic team on Feb. 2.

For two years, Rachael Flatt has watched the U.S. Championships medal ceremony from the second spot on the podium. But in Spokane, Wash., Flatt finally stood atop the medal stand, following a record breaking performance that pushed her past 2008 U.S. Champion Mirai Nagasu, who led after the short program. Both are headed to the Olympics.

After the short program at the 1998 U.S. Championships in Philadelphia, Tara Lipinski was in fourth place, facing the possibility that she would not make the 1998 U.S. Olympic team because of an uncharacteristic fall on her triple flip. “I remember that after my short program at nationals, there was a moment of panic in my head when I realized that I was in fourth place,” Lipinski said.

Ashley Wagner, Sasha Cohen, Rachael Flatt and Mirai Nagasu close the ladies free skate.

Four years removed from her last competitive effort, a bronze medal finish at the 2006 World Championships, reigning Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen picked up at the 2010 U.S. Championships almost exactly where she left off — at the top. Cohen finished a close second in the short program Thursday to Mirai Nagasu with a solid performance that brought the near sold out crowd in the Spokane Arena to their feet.