Who Is Nathan Chen?

            My VIP for this week is Nathan Chen who is Chinese American. He was born and reared in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Chinese parents. He did not defect from America to skate for China like other Americans have done. In addition, he did well in his performances.

According to Joe Coles, Chen led the USA figure skating team to a silver medal and has taken a “big step towards an individual medal.” He “set the world record in the short program with score of 113.97, more than two points ahead of Yuzuru Hanyu’s former world record score of 111.82, set in 2020. 

            Having “skated with fire and intensity in his eyes,” Chen showed that he “knew his program was great right when it ended” by “pumping his fist.” He is currently in first place with his “virtually flawless” performance and will skate his final event on Wednesday, the men’s individual free skate.

I was elated. Last Olympics, both short programs didn’t go the way I wanted. Finally getting the opportunity to skate the programs in the way that I wanted, it feels really great. It means a lot.

Every opportunity that I get at competitors is one that I should be grateful for, especially the Olympics – that’s a completely different story…. I’m just really happy to be here.

            I am boycotting the Olympics because I do not think that they should have been awarded to China. China is responsible for developing COVID-19 and allowing it to spread to the entire world. They should be penalized, not rewarded. However, I will celebrate great performances by Americans.