Why is Nathan Chen Called the ‘Quad King’? What Does it Mean?

Published 02/04/2022, 12:08 PM EST

The American hopes for a guaranteed gold medal lie in Nathan Chen, and it’s only fair. He is one of the best figure skaters in the world and is also the current World Champion. A three-time World Champion and an Olympic bronze medalist, Chen has come a long way from the 2018 Winter Games. That year, he won the bronze medal for the team figure skating competition and had a lackluster Winter Olympics.

Now, stronger than before, Chen is going places. Quite remarkably, he became the first person to land five quadruple jumps in a single competition, elevating the levels for a figure skating athlete and earning himself the nickname, ‘Quad King’.

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Nathan Chen- The quadruple jumpmaster

There are some skills in each sport that are hard to perform, let alone master. When Travis Pastrana did the double backflip with a motocross bike, the audience remained stunned. Skateboarding legend, Tony Hawk, did the first-ever documented 900 on a vertical ramp and left us all speechless.

In the same way, the quadruple jump is one of the toughest jumps in figure skating. Due to the same, it is the most feared trick in the game. However, if you’re Nathan Chen, you fear nothing.

The trick involves jumping from the ground, completing four rotations in the air, and landing on one foot. The degree of difficulty is enormous, as it has almost seven times your body weight coming down on one leg.

Notably, athletes even fight through inertia by tucking their bodies inside while rotating in the air. While the artistry of this move is impressive, its difficulty causes plenty to refrain from the thought of it. Plenty, but not the Quad King.

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Landing five jumps

The incredible Chen is a master in this jump. He landed five quadruple jumps in a single competition, astonishing the fans in attendance. Since then, Chen is regarded as the best figure skater out there.

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Although, rivaling him for the gold medal is the Japanese figure skating sensation, Yuzuru Hanru, who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Chen looks up to him for inspiration and loves the bar he sets in figure skating.

“Long before I even competed against him he was sort of that benchmark for what an exceptional figure skater should be,” said Chen.

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A worthy owner of the Quad King title, do you think Nathan Chen can bring home the gold medal, defeating the same man who inspires him?

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Written by:

Jacob Gijy is a US Sports and NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Gijy finished his Masters in Counselling Psychology and worked in a hospital for 2 years before his passion for sports compelled him to find his way to sports journalism. A fan of the great Tim Duncan, he is always ready to pick up a debate with anyone who does not offer the center the respect he deserves.

Why is Nathan Chen Called the ‘Quad King’? What Does it Mean?

Nathan Chen- The quadruple jumpmaster

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Landing five jumps