Nathan Chen Becomes Second American Man In 30 Years To Win The Men's Singles At Olympics
- jmpblodgett
- May 31, 2022
- 3 min read
Nathan Wei Chen is an American figure skater who claimed silver in the team figure skating event, and gold in the mens singles figure skating event during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Chen is a three-time World champion, the 2017 Four Continents champion, a three-time Grand Prix Final champion, and six-time U.S. national champion in figure skating. Chen also was apart of the bronze team medal in the 2018 Olympics.
At just 22-years of age, Chen became known as "the Quad King" due to his ability to perform quadruple jumps with a look of ease. He is also the first skater to have landed five types of quadruple jumps in competition—the toe loop, Salchow, loop, flip, and Lutz—as well as eight quadruple jumps across a single competition (2018 World Championships). At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Chen placed fourth in the men's short program of the team event, and became the first skater to land a quad flip at the Olympics. Chen also attended Yale University between 2018 and 2022.
Currently Chen is the:
Holder of the highest short program score (113.97), free skate score (224.92) and combined total score (335.30) in Figure skating.
Holder of the highest short program score (113.97), free skate score (218.63) and combined total score (332.60) at the Olympics.
First skater to have completed a five-quad program cleanly with level 4 and positive grade of execution (GOE) on all technical elements.
Has broken world records seven times under the current judging system.
Broke the men's record for the combined total with 335.30 points at the 2019 Grand Prix Final.
Broke the men's record for the free skate with 224.92 points at the 2019 Grand Prix Final.
Set the men's record for the combined total with 323.42 points at the 2019 World Championships.
Set the men's record for the free skate with 216.02 points at the 2019 World Championships.
Set the men's record for short program score (113.97) at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Youngest (18 years old) men's world champion since 2001 at 2018 World Championships.
First skater to land eight quadruple jumps in a competition (2018 World Championships).
First skater to land six quadruple jumps in one program (free skate, 2018 Winter Olympics).
First skater to land five different quadruple jumps (4T, 4S, 4Lo, 4F, and 4Lz) in competition (4Lo landed at 2017 CS U.S. International Figure Skating Classic).
Youngest (17 years old) U.S. men's national champion since 1966 at 2017 U.S. Championships.
Chen has also been honored and awarded in:
Honored to appear as an Olympic athlete in the Virtual Parade Across America event at the Inauguration of Joe Biden.
Named to the "2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports List" by the Forbes Magazine.
Named the 2019 Male Olympic Athlete of the Year by U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
Recipient of 2019, 2021 Gustave Lussi Award - a prestigious Professional Skaters Association's Edi Awards.
Awarded a proclamation by Salt Lake County making May 16 "Nathan Chen Day."
Named one of Team USA's Top 16 Men Of 2016, Top 17 Men Of 2017, Top 18 Men Of 2018, Top 19 Men Of 2019.
Awarded Team USA's Best Male Athlete of the Month in December 2016, January, October, December 2017, January, November 2018, January, March, October, November, December 2019.
Won SKATING magazine’s 2016–17, 2017–18 and 2018-19 Readers’ Choice Award (Michelle Kwan Trophy).
Selected one of 2018, 2019, 2020 Gold House A100 honorees and 2021 Gold House A100 Hall of Fame
Selected one of the 2017 "Next Generation Leaders" by the Time.
Recipient of 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009 Michael Weiss Foundation Scholarship.
Recipient of 2012 Ron and Gayle Hershberger Award.
Recipient of 2011 Athlete Alumni Ambassador Award.
Recipient of 2011, 2010 Cecilia Colledge Memorial Fund award.
Featured on ABC News' Person of the Week aired on February 19, 2010.
And he is just getting started.
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