By Gavin Chen
Nathan Chen, born in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 5, 1999, is a Chinese American world-renowned figure skater who earned the nickname “Quad King” for his unmatched ability to execute multiple quadruple jumps—jumps with four full rotations—in competition. Standing 5’6″ and weighing 135 pounds, Chen emerged as a prodigious talent early in his career, quickly becoming a dominant force in the world of figure skating. He made his Olympic debut in 2018, but it was his redemption at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing that cemented his legacy.
Chen’s performances consistently featured intricate choreography alongside technically demanding elements. His ability to land quads set him apart from his competitors. At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Chen claimed the gold medal in men’s singles after delivering a near-flawless performance in both the short program and free skate, where he set a world record with a score of 113.97 points. Throughout his career, Chen has not only dominated the sport technically, but he has also become an inspirational figure for many aspiring skaters, showcasing resilience and grace under pressure.
Chen is currently enrolled in a one-year post-baccalaureate program focusing on data science at Goucher College, with plans to apply to medical school next. He has expressed an interest in oncology and is working on genetics-related research as part of his career transition into medicine.
(Photo Credit: David W. Carmichael licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License)
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