Ashley Wagner set a new record and won her third U.S. title Saturday at the senior U.S. figure skating Championships.
Wagner, 23, was the two-time defending champion at 2014's U.S. nationals, but came in fourth, according to ABC News. She did not have remarkable performances at either the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi or at the Grand Prix. She said she felt as if people began to write her off as a competitive skater after those performances. She did receive the bronze medal at the Grand Prix competition, which seemed to propel her forward.
On Saturday, Wagner performed seven triple jumps to a rendition of "Moulin Rouge" and scored the highest points overall in U.S. nationals history, USA Today reported. Only Olympian Michelle Kwan has won more U.S. women's titles than Wagner over the past 25 years.
"This, of my three titles, this one tastes the sweetest," Wagner said. "This is the one that means the most to me, because this s the one that shows every single person that doubts me, every single person that says I'm too old, every single person that says I'm not capable of beign a leading lady -- this shows them that they need to shut their mouths and watch me skate."
Wagner scored 148.98 points in the free skate, 221.02 overall and defeated defending champion Gracie Gold by 15.48 points, ABC News reported. When she landed her final triple lutz, she threw her arm in the air in celebration.
Karen Chen, 15, came in third place at Saturday's competition, her first senior U.S. Champions. Former Olympic figure skater Polina Edmunds took fourth place.
