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Nathan Chen is USA’s first Olympic champion in figure skating since Evan Lysacek in 2010. Since his historic six-quad free skate at the Pyeongchang Olympics, Chen has cemented himself as one of the best figure skaters ever. He is an inspiration to both fans and young skaters alike.

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It is easy to forget amidst all his achievements in the sport, Chen is still a college student. And today, Chen turned 23.

Fans take over Twitter

In his decade-long career, Chen had already amassed quite a fan following. But after the Beijing Olympics, his popularity shot through the roof. So on this special day, Chen’s fans took to Twitter to wish the skater a very happy birthday from all around the world.

Of course, when you have as many titles as Chen does, a simple greeting can be quite a mouthful

Chen’s break from competition hasn’t deterred his fans in the least. They wish him well in all his endeavors.

Lessons learned and attitudes gained, Chen has had quite the impact.

And surely no round of birthday wishes is complete without fanart!

Where is Nathan Chen now?

Nathan Chen has set numerous records throughout his career. He even earned the nickname Quad King for his consistent and clean quadruple jumps. His rivalry with the two-time Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu has garnered a lot of attention in the last few years.

READ MORE: “Was on the Verge of..”: US Star Vincent Zhou Opens Up on Mental Health Issues Post Beijing Olympics Setback

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Now, while Hanyu has his eyes on landing the first-ever Quad Axel, Chen has different priorities.

via Getty

Chen’s mission to stand atop the Olympic podium has been accomplished. And with an incredible track record, the skater has decided to take time off for his studies. With 3 World titles and 3 Grand Prix titles in the bag, Chen is now focused on completing his remaining two years at Yale University. He is pursuing a degree in statistics and data science. After taking a break from academics for his Olympic prep, Chen now wants to live out his college life like a normal student.

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WATCH THIS STORY: US Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Chen Drops Ceremonial Puck at NHL Game

After his Olympic victory, Chen withdrew from the 2022 Figure Skating World Championships. He has given countless interviews and made appearances on numerous talk shows since. We don’t know whether Chen will return to the ice after his graduation. But currently, you can catch a glimpse of his incredible skating in ice shows. Chen is headlining the Stars On Ice tour across America along with most of the US Olympic team.