CREATE TABLE table_204_291 (id DECIMAL, "rank" DECIMAL, "name" TEXT, "nation" TEXT, "cp" DECIMAL, "fp" DECIMAL, "points" DECIMAL, "placings" DECIMAL)

how many women from the united states competed in the 1971 world figure skating championships ?
SELECT COUNT("name") FROM table_204_291 WHERE "nation" = 'united states'
SELECT COUNT("name") FROM "table_204_291" WHERE "nation" = 'united states'