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Four years after a disappointing Olympics debut, Nathan Chen avenged himself — and then some — during the men’s short program on Friday in the first event of a dominant day for the Americans at the figure skating team competition.
Chen, 22, got his 2022 Olympic Games underway with a 111.71, the best short-program score of his career and more than six points better than second-place finisher Uno Shoma of Japan.
“Honestly, I’m just here to have fun, and I was able to do that,” Chen said during an interview on NBC. “So I’m really happy.”
The Americans hold the lead after three events in the team competition, with a score of 28 out of a maximum 30. Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue recorded the highest score (86.56) in the rhythm dance program, and Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier finished in third in the pairs event with a 75.00. Both of the American pairings recorded personal-best scores.
Chen, the three-time reigning world champion, arrived in Beijing as the heavy favorite to win the individual men’s figure skating gold medal, and he more than proved he was up for the challenge. Chen landed both of his quad attempts Friday as well as a triple axel and showed few signs of nerves while skating to “La Bohème” by Charles Aznavour.
His teammates, holding signs like “10 for Chen,” showered him with a standing ovation when he was finished. It was a far different scene than his performance at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018, when he fell on a triple axel during the team competition and had a number of uncharacteristic errors. He recorded a fourth-place finish in the event and the team ended up with the bronze.
His individual performance days later was even more disappointing. In a nerve-riddled short program, he fell again and was in 17th place after the first day of competition. Chen redeemed himself in his free skate, recording a personal-best score and becoming the first man to land five clean quads during the Games, but the deficit to make the podium was simply too insurmountable. He finished in fifth place.
Since then, Chen has been nearly unbeatable, and on Friday, he showed what he’s capable of on the sport’s grandest stage, setting the tone for his American teammates. Chen was feeling optimistic about the country’s chances for finishing on the podium when speaking to the media later Friday.
“We can walk away with a medal for sure,” Chen said. “What color? It’s hard to say, but I have faith in my teammates and I know they’re going to do the best they can do.”
The women’s short program will take place on Sunday in Beijing. The five teams with the highest scores from the four combined short programs will advance to the free portion that begins later that day. Chen is not expected to compete in the free skate and will likely be replaced by Jason Brown or Vincent Zhou.
The Russian Olympic Committee is currently in second place and China in third. Canada, the defending team gold medalists, is in sixth. The United States has won bronze in both Olympics since the event was introduced.