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4 to Watch: Shaun White Gets His Gold, Shiffrin's Slalom Debut Postponed Again

Day 4 in Pyeongchang features Shaun White's triumphant quest for a third gold and more action on the ice

ICE DHS in Puerto Rico

From Shaun White's history-making halfpipe victory to figure skating's favorite married pair, there's been no shortage of must-see action on Day 4 of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. A luger from Long Island will compete, and Mikaela Shiffrin was set to defend her Olympic slalom gold but saw the race postponed due to the weather. 

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Mikaela Shiffrin in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Giant Slalom on Dec. 19, 2017 in Courchevel, France. Shiffrin, a winter Olympics contender from the United States, beat out France's Tessa Worley for the World Cup in giant slalom.

1. Back on Top: Shaun White Wins Halfpipe Gold

[NBCO-GalleryFeed] Model Olympian: Shaun White

Team USA's Shaun White held off a strong field Wednesday and soared to victory in the men's halfpipe competition in Pyeongchang. White’s gold medal marks the 100th for Team USA in its history of competing at the Winter Olympics. 

Japan’s Ayumu Hirano took the silver, while Australia’s Scotty James earned the bronze. 

White earned gold in Turin in 2006 and Vancouver in 2010, but didn't even crack the top three in Sochi. That outcome haunted him at times before he hit reset last summer and pointed to South Korea.

In qualifying, White exhaled after putting up a 93.75 on his first run, ensuring a spot in the finals. He later topped his own score with a 98.5.

Must-See: Shaun White defies gravity on first halfpipe run; Interactive panorama: Shaun White in the halfpipe; Shaun White gets massive score, tops halfpipe qualifying

MORE: 
Flashback: Watch Shaun White's golden halfpipe run in Torino; Photos: Shaun White through the years

2. Mikaela Shiffrin's Slalom Competition Postponed

[NBCO-GalleryFeed] Mikaela Shiffrin's Prom Pictures

Mikaela Shiffrin will have to wait a little longer to make her Pyeongchang debut.

She must wait to ski in her signature event, the slalom, after it was postponed Wednesday morning due to high winds. She was the youngest-ever Olympic slalom champion at the Sochi Games at age 18, and she's the first woman to win three consecutive slalom world titles in 78 years. Shiffrin hopes to become the first person to win the slalom gold medal twice in a row. She was initially set to make her Pyeongchang debut in the giant slalom race earlier in the week, but it was postponed due to dangerous winds.

The race has been moved to Friday, after the giant slalom race rescheduled for Thursday morning (Wednesday night in the U.S.).

Lindsey Vonn, another standout American skier, will not compete in the slalom.

Must-See: Mikaela Shiffrin dishes on winning gold in Sochi

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3. Figure Skating's Married Couple Advance to Final

[NATL] Funny Faces of Figure Skating

Team USA's lone entry in pairs figure skating, Alexa Scimeca Knierim, 26, and Chris Knierim, 30, stood in fifth place after scoring a 65.55 in the short program Wednesday morning at Gangneung Ice Arena. The score was good enough to guarantee the American pair a spot in the next round of the competition — free skate.

Skating to “Come What May” from “Moulin Rouge!” the Knierims scored 34.18 on their technical score and 31.37 on performance. They were the 14th of 22 pairs to skate, with the top 16 advancing to the final.

Must-See: Alexa, Chris Knierim soak up the moment on Valentine's Day; Love at first sight for Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim 

4. Long Island's Matt Mortensen Doesn't Medal in Luge Doubles

7 Fast Facts on Matt Mortensen: A Luger From Long Island

Huntington Station's doubles luger 32-year-old Matt Mortensen and his teammate Jayson Terdiman failed to medal in the event at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. Mortensen and Terdiman finished the double luge event in 10th place. Mortensen and Terdiman were one of two American teams to run the luge doubles. 

2018 is Mortensen's second Olympic appearance. He finished in 14th place at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Mortensen and Terdiman faced stiff competition from the "Two Tobis" -- defending luge doubles champs Tobias Arlt and Tobias Wendl from Germany, who once again took home the gold. 

Must-See: No joke -- Long Island luge hero aims for medal in Pyeongchang

MORE: Matt Mortensen and Jayson Terdiman's first of two runs on Wednesday. 

[NATL-NBCO-GalleryFeed] US Olympic Athletes: If I Were a Superhero My Power Would Be...

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