via Getty
USA’s Nathan Chen competes in the men’s single skating free skating of the figure skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on February 10, 2022. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) (Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)
via Getty
USA’s Nathan Chen competes in the men’s single skating free skating of the figure skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on February 10, 2022. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) (Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)
Nathan Chen didn’t just win the gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. He won out hearts. And with a stunning display on the ink that culminated in a backflip, he clearly won over the judges too. But how was he able to tap into something so unique and something that set his routine apart on the rink? Nathan Chen opens up about his gymnastics background and how it contributed to a more stunning display.
Nathan Chen captured the gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics in the Men’s figure skating individual event and with his historic victory set up a victory lap around several media outlets upon his return. Chen, still a student at Yale, will now decide on his participation in the World Championships and staying in school another semester. And while still uncertain about his future, his past certainly reflects a solid story.
Nathan Chen opens up about including a backflip in his routine
Nathan Chen spoke more openly about his background in gymnastics and how that contributed to building his routine and more specifically that backflip at the Olympics. And if he is to be believed, the backflip is actually an easier move than some other more technical jumps.
Speaking a bit candidly, Chen opened up. Said Chen,?“I think it’s a fun thing to do. Might as well do it in a performance and not just in practice, you know?”
The athlete reportedly learnt the move while he had some of his friends over in Idaho while he was doing gymnastics. It was then just the simple matter of being able to replicate it on ice. Said Chen, “Actually [choreographer] Ashley Clark, who does a backflip herself, taught me how to do it. So it was really cool to be able to have that moment with her. And then also now just to be able to do it on the ice.”
Opening up a bit more about what looks good on the ice compared to which is more technical, Chen was clear that a backflip is for the audience. He added, “I’ll do a quad [jump] in a show, and no one really reacts. And then I’ll do a backflip, which is significantly easier, and they go crazy.”
A true showman, Chen punctuated his statement with a clear indication, “So at the end of the day, I’ll do that because it’s easier and people like it better.”
Watch This Story: Nathan Chen Unsure About His Future In Figure Skating
Nathan Chen is clearly here to stay and having already scripted history, he may still have some ways to go. But where do you think he will stand even a year or two from now? Could he get more to his Olympic tally?
