Nathan

Chen

Quick Facts

• Sport: Figure Skating

• Specialty: Men's Singles

Biographical Information

Spurred by a large family involvement in both figure skating and ice hockey, Nathan Chen started skating at the age of three and progressed quickly in competitive figure skating in the United States. Known for his technical skills, particularly his quadruple jumps, he has become one of the sport's top athletes. 

Alongside skating, Chen also has a background in gymnastics and ballet. Chen attended Yale University while training remotely for two seasons before returning to Southern California to continue his career. Off the ice, he supports initiatives for underprivileged youth and advocates for diversity in sports through his philanthropic efforts.

Olympic Highlights

Nathan Chen made his Olympic debut at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, where he earned a bronze medal with Team USA in the figure skating team event. In the men's singles competition, he placed fifth overall after a strong free skate. At the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, Chen won the gold medal in the men's singles event and contributed to Team USA's silver-medal finish in the team event, competing in the short program.

World Championship Highlights

Nathan Chen earned his first world title at the 2018 World Figure Skating Championships in Milan, Italy. He went on to secure victories at Saitama 2019 and Stockholm 2021. 

U.S. Championship Highlights

Nathan Chen has over 10 wins in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships across the novice, junior and senior levels. His success at these events helped establish him as a leading figure in U.S. skating and set the foundation for his achievements at the world championships and Olympic Games.

Career Highlights

Nathan Chen has been a consistent presence in both U.S. and international figure skating competitions. Known for his ability to perform multiple quadruple jumps in short and free skate programs, he remained undefeated in international events from 2018 to 2021, winning 10 consecutive titles. In the 2021 season, he placed third at Skate America but rebounded with a win at Skate Canada, a key step leading to his success at Beijing 2022.

Early Career

Nathan Chen’s early career included notable success at both the junior and senior levels of figure skating. He entered his first figure skating competition in 2003. Chen made history in 2016 by becoming the first skater to land five quadruple jumps in a single performance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, where he finished third overall. As a junior, he earned medals at events like the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final and the World Junior Figure Skating Championships. 

Olympic Experience

• 2-time Olympian; 3-time Olympic medalist (2 gold, 1 bronze)
• Olympic Games Beijing 2022, gold (Singles - Men, Team - Mixed)
• Olympic Games Pyeongchang 2018, bronze (Team - Mixed), 5th (Singles - Men)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2021 – gold (Singles - Men)
• Years of participation: Singles - Men 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
• Medals: 3 (3 gold)
• Gold – 2021 (Singles - Men); 2019 (Singles - Men); 2018 (Singles - Men)