The leading contender heading into the Olympics was 2005 World champion Russia's Irina Slutskaya, the first woman to win the European Championship seven times.

Other potential medal contenders included Russia's Elena Sokolova, who won world silver in 2003; two-time Canadian champion Joannie Rochette; 2005 world bronze medalist Carolina Kostner; 2005 European silver medalist Susanna Pöykiö; five-time Swiss champion Sarah Meier; 2005 European bronze medalist Elena Liashenko; and 2004 European champion Júlia Sebestyén.

Besides a slight stumble in her serpentine steps, Hughes also had a strong debut at her first major international event, finishing seventh in the short.

Rounding out the top ten was Ando, stepping out of her combination; Rochette, putting her hand down on the triple flip; and Sarah Meier, who skated a clean program.

Kostner fell on her triple flip combination and finished just out of the top ten but had strong program component marks and the support of the crowd.

Skating early in the competition, Sokolova took herself out of the running for a medal when she fell out of her Lutz and singled a loop.

Arakawa, despite media pressure and being labeled an underdog, performed a five triple jump program which was enough to win the gold medal.

Despite these early mistakes, Cohen was able to pull herself together and land the rest of her jumps and execute her trademark spins and spirals.

Meier finished eighth with a relatively clean skate but singled an Axel and doubled a Lutz jump.