Nathan Chen dazzled in the men’s figure skating competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics, claiming a gold medal he still can’t believe he won. He vied for that top spot with a world-record-setting short program followed by a quad-filled long program – and his signature dance break did not disappoint.
Chen’s free skate was largely set to Elton John’s “Rocketman,” and the music icon himself congratulated Chen on Twitter. It’s also been incredibly touching to see Team USA figure skaters both in Beijing and watching from afar show support after his spectacular win.
There’s so much more Olympic figure skating to come, and Chen shared that he’s excited to cheer on the rest of his teammates from the stands (and maybe watch some hockey while he’s at it). But first, check out celebratory words from US figure skating’s current and past stars ahead. You can just feel all the pride!
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Jason Brown Gives Nathan Chen Praise
“He just is like no one else,” Jason Brown said of Chen, according to USA Today, after placing sixth in men’s figure skating in Beijing. “He’s constantly proven himself, and he’s gone through so much. And you’ve seen him just get better and better and better. And the way that he’s dealt with the pressure is remarkable.”
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Mariah Bell Knew Nathan Chen Won Gold Right Away
Mariah Bell is a close friend of Chen’s, and the two train together. “I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but obviously he’s feeling the weight of the world,” Bell said of Chen. “He handled it so well. He deserves to be an Olympic champion because few people can handle it.” She added, too, that she knew he secured gold before he started his free skate.
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Michlle Kwan Calls Nathan Chen's Gold a "Great Moment For Our Sport"
Chen said in a press conference that having Michelle Kwan as a Chinese American athlete to look up to was inspirational. Kwan, a two-time Olympic medalist, wrote on Chen’s Instagram tribute to his mom, “So precious, I’m sure your mom is so proud ? What a great moment for our sport to have such an extraordinary champion and role model both on and off the ice. Congratulations, so well-deserved!!”
