“Forever Changed Men’s Figure Skating”- Nathan Chen Hailed as Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022

Nathan Chen is perhaps the most popular figure skater in the USA after he won gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. His victory has brought much glory to his home country and hometown and inspired many young skaters to push forward.

Many awards and accolades have been bestowed on him for this feat. To add to that list, Chen has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022.

The influence of Nathan Chen

TIME magazine named Nathan Chen one of the most influential people of 2022. To highlight his influence, Michelle Kwan, a figure skating icon in the US, contributed to the magazine. “He has forever changed men’s figure skating, setting new standards with his quadruple jumps,” she wrote. “He’ll inspire generations of skaters to come.”

Coming from an Olympian with five World titles and nine National titles, the words carry quite some weight. In fact, when Michelle Kwan was winning her second Olympic medal, bronze in 2002 Salt Lake City, Chen hadn’t even stepped on the ice and was merely two years old.

Chen’s impact on the sport of figure skating has been enormous. With consistent quads and the ever-increasing difficulty levels of his programs, Chen has pushed the boundaries of this sport time and again. The media rightfully dubbed him the ‘Quad King’.

His first Olympic performance was during Pyeongchang 2018 when he flubbed his short program and ranked low. Even then, his redemptive free skate was one for the history books where he landed six quads and climbed all the way to fourth, just off the podium.

READ MORE: IOC’s Latest Announcement Brings Back Hopes for Nathan Chen and Other US Stars’ Missed Beijing Olympics Ceremony Due to Russian Figure Skating Scandal

Chen’s run at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Truly, Chen’s performance in Beijing was a force to be reckoned with. His relentless training and persistent efforts bore fruit when he set new records and claimed the gold medal. Skating to the song ‘Rocketman’ by American icon Elton John, his blades painted a narrative of glory.

He has received countless honors for his achievements. The Professional Skaters Association awarded him the 2022 Gustave Lussi Award. His hometown, Salt Lake City, even proclaimed May 18th as ‘Nathan Chen Day’. Moreover, the Committee of 100 also presented Chen with the ‘Trailblazer Award for Commitment to Excellence’ by the Committee of 100.

Now, he is one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. It’s unfortunate for the fans that Chen has decided to take a break from skating to focus on his academics. While his return to competition is uncertain, we hope he finds success on whichever road he chooses ahead.

DIVE DEEPER: US Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Chen Makes a Dicey Statement on His Figure Skating Future