FromFromFromFromFrom being a tiny prodigy being a tiny prodigy being a tiny prodigy being a tiny prodigy being a tiny prodigy beingatinypr
who was a novice national who was a novice national who was a novice national t
chamchampion, to junior, se-pion, to junior, se-
nior, and now Olymnior, and now Olymnior, and now Olympic pic ppic
chamchamchampion, Nathan Chen pion, Nathan Chen pion, Nathan Chen C
has proved his relentless has proved his relentless has proved his relentless t
comcomcomcomcomcomcommmmmmmmitmitmitmitmitmitmitmt ent to figure ent to figure ent to figure ent to figure ent to figure ent to figure ent to figure tt fi r
skating. That perseverance skating. That perseverance skating. That perseverance e
never wavered, even after never wavered, even after never wavered, even after n
his first Olymhis first Olymhis first Olympics didn’t go pics didn’t go pics didn’t go d
as he’d hoped. He trained as he’d hoped. He trained as he’d hoped. He trained a
for another four years and for another four years and for another four years and for another four years and y r
showed the world just how showed the world just how
fierce a comfierce a comfierce a competitor he is.petitor he is.petitor he is.h
Nathan was 2 years old Nathan was 2 years old
when I comwhen I competed in 2002 peted in 2002
at the Salt Lake City Olymat the Salt Lake City Olym--
pics. I saw the picture of pics. I saw the picture of pics. I saw the picture of pics. I saw the picture of pics. I saw the picture of pics. I saw the picture of Isawthepictur
himhimhim there as a toddler, there as a toddler, there as a toddler, e
and was mand was mand was moved to hear oved to hear oved to hear e
he looked to mhe looked to me as a role e as a role
mmmodel as a Chinese Amodel as a Chinese Amodel as a Chinese AmA eri-eri-eri-
can skater. I know how can skater. I know how can skater. I know how o
powerful that can be. powerful that can be. powerful that can be. e
But Nathan is an inspi-But Nathan is an inspi-But Nathan is an inspi-i
ration in his own right. He ration in his own right. He ration in his own right. He h
has forever changed mhas forever changed men’s en’s
figure skating, setting new figure skating, setting new figure skating, setting new n
standards with his quadru-standards with his quadru-standards with his quadru-u
ple jumple jumple jumps. It won’t be long ps. It won’t be long ps. It won’t be long b
before we hear athletes say before we hear athletes say before we hear athletes say t
they looked up to Nathan they looked up to Nathan they looked up to Nathan a
Chen. He’ll inspire genera-Chen. He’ll inspire genera-Chen. He’ll inspire genera-g
tions of skaters to comtions of skaters to comtions of skaters to como e e e
who will hear his Olymwho will hear his Olymwho will hear his Olymy pic pic pic
story and learn that noth-story and learn that noth-
ing is iming is impossible. possible.
Kwan is a two-time Kwan is a two-time
Olympic medalist and a Olympic medalist and a
five-time world-champion five-time world-champion
figure skaterfigure skater
Nathan Nathan
ChenChen
Flawless skater
B Y M I C H E L L E K WA NB Y M I C H E L L E K WA N
34 Time June 6/June 13, 2022