Simone Biles, the undisputed queen of gymnastics, has captivated a global audience with her incredible talent and unparalleled determination. Her brilliance isn’t just admired by everyday gymnastics fans; she has earned the respect and awe of athletes from all corners of the sports world, each recognizing the unique grit and unyielding spirit that define her.

One of her newest admirers is none other than Nathan Chen, the figure skating prodigy and two-time Winter Olympics gold medalist. After a long, two-year wait to finally stand atop the podium and receive the gold he earned at the 2022 Winter Games, Chen couldn’t help but express his admiration for Biles. Speaking to olympics.com, he was full of praise for the gymnastics legend, reflecting the deep respect and inspiration she has ignited across sports. As we delve into what he said, it’s clear that Biles’ impact reaches far beyond the gymnastics mat, touching the hearts of fellow athletes who see in her the epitome of excellence and resilience.

Olympic Champion, Nathan Chen Celebrates Triumph and Resilience of Simone Biles

Taking to Olympics.com on 16 August 2024, the 10x Grand Prix medalist shared his thoughts on the extraordinary gymnastic prowess of Simone Biles. Acknowledging the struggles of the gymnastics GOAT, Nathan Chen expressed his absolute admiration for her resilience. “Simone has had tremendous ups and downs that she’s overcome in her career. The human side of being an athlete that she’s shown, the resilience, it’s just very inspiring. It makes you feel really proud to be an athlete,” said the star figure skater. His comments capture the essence of Biles’s resilience, who, after getting sidetracked at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, following the case of twisties, bounced back strong and claimed three gold at the Paris Olympics.

The 3x world champion figure skater received his 2022 Bejing Olympic medal in Paris after two years of uncertainty and countless appeals. His long wait for the gold medal began when his team finished second in the team event behind Russia in the 2022 winter event. But the award ceremony was called off after Russian star Kamila Valieva was found positive for a banned substance. The incident followed thirty months of inquiries and appeals when, finally, a Switzerland court cleared Chen and his team for the gold medal. His latest gold medal adds another accolade to his already illustrious career.

The way forward for the “Quad King”

The two 2x Beijing medalist, Nathan Chen, boasts a figure skating career that is strewn with medals and titles. Considered one of the greatest figure skaters of all time, Chen is most notably remembered for his exceptional winning streak for four continuous years from 2018 to 2021. During the period, Chen was absolutely unstoppable, claiming three world championships, three Grand Prix finals, and four US championships. And now, with two gold under his belt, “Quad King” has further cemented his legacy as the GOAT of figure skating.

However, when asked what lay ahead for the champion skater, Nathan Chen didn’t quote about another medal or title, in the path forward. The star skater last participated in any major figure skating event at the 2022 Winter Olympics. But at the moment, he seems to have a different focus: medicine. He revealed that medicine has always excited him, and he is thinking of pursuing it. Interestingly, the 2017 Four Continents champion has a degree in statistics from Yale University. However, he emphasized that skating is and always will be his first love, hinting that he is not done with the sport that has brought him so many accolades.