Skating Legend Yuzuru Hanyu and Defending Champion Nathan Chen’s Withdrawal Opens Door for a New Champion

If you are a figure skating fan, we’re sorry. We sympathize with you and empathize with the golden boy, Nathan Chen, who just announced his withdrawal from the World Championships. The entire figure skating world is aghast over Nathan Chen not being part of the World Figure Skating Championship 2022 due to an injury.

Notably, along with him, legend and his arch-rival, Yuzuru Hanyu, will also be missing out on the competition to be held in France.

A couple of weeks ago, the Japanese figure skating legend Yuzuru Hanyu withdrew his name from the World Figure Skating championship because of an ankle injury he suffered during the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Adding salt to the wound, now came the news of the Olympic champion Nathan Chen, also not taking part in the world championship.

Perhaps it’s the worst timing to be a figure skating fan right now. But in the absence of two greats, there’s a hidden silver lining for a young prodigy who can and must make the most of this opportunity.

Who can become the world champion in the absence of Nathan and Yuzuru?

The three-time world champion, Nathan Chen, is being replaced by the 21-year-old American figure skater, Camden Pulkinen; While Yuzuru Hanyu was replaced by 16-year-old Miura Kao for the world championship. In the absence of the top figure skaters in the world, Camden and Miura will have all the attention for the championship title.

Apart from these two, the competition is wide open for the new world champion to take control. However, since China is also not taking part in the world championship, and Russia is already out, it is really difficult to determine any favorites before the tournament.

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Nathan Chen is out of the World Championship

No matter how frustrating it is for every figure skating fan out there, the truth is that Nathan Chen is out of the championship. Earlier he released a statement, saying, “I am disappointed to have to withdraw from worlds. I have been training for this competition since returning from Beijing. I have a nagging injury that I’ve been dealing with and I don’t want to risk further injury by practicing and competing next week.”

It must have been quite frustrating for Nathan as well, who missed a golden opportunity to win his fourth world championship title and become one of the few skaters to have won the Olympics and the World Championships in the same year.

However, as the show must go on, who will be you rooting for in the absence of Nathan and Yuzuru?

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