While South Korean star Yu-Na Kim is heavily favored to take home the gold medal in women’s figure skating, Coloradan Rachael Flatt should not be discounted in the race for the bronze medal.

So far in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the United States has had a good figure skating record with a gold in the men’s event for California’s Evan Lysacek and silver medals in ice dancing for Meryl Davis and Charlie White of Michigan. With the women’s medals being handed out tomorrow night, the United States’s chance to continue this pattern rests with 17-year-old Flatt.

Before 2010 United States champion Flatt took to the ice to perform her short program in the ladies’ event, commentator Tom Hammond reminded viewers of US women’s previous dominance in this sport. “Remember, a US Lady has won a medal in every Olympics since Peggy Fleming took the gold medal back in 1968,” Hammond said. Flatt seems to be the United States’s best chance at a medal in women’s figure skating at this Olympics.

Flatt delivered an energetic and engaging short program on Tuesday night, earning her personal best score of 64.64. This left Flatt in fifth place, but only .12 points behind the woman in fourth place, Japan’s Miki Ando. Flatt’s teammate, Californian Mirai Nagasu ended up in sixth place with a 63.76.

Of course, it is unlikely that Flatt will be able to catch South Korea’s graceful and strong Kim, who set a world record short program score on Tuesday night with her 78.50. Japan’s Mao Asada, the only woman in this competition who did a triple axel — a jump entailing 3.5 rotations — will also be hard to beat.

Flatt is certainly not out of medal contention. While gold and silver might be out of her grasp, she could possibly screech into third and earn a bronze medal. She is only .12 points away from fourth place, which could make it easy for her to at least make her way to fourth with her free skate.

Flatt is known as “the Rock,” a reference to her consistency. She can deliver wonderful strong performances when her competitors falter. Not only is Flatt consistent, but she also brings youthful sparkle and enthusiasm as well as athleticism to the rink.

Such a change in standings has not been unheard of in past ladies’ Olympic figure skating. In 2002, American Sarah Hughes was in fourth place after the short program but ended up winning the gold medal when her competitors made mistakes in their free skates.

If Flatt performs the free skate of her life on Thursday, she might be able to take home the bronze and keep the United States ladies’ figure skating medal streak alive.