WATCH: US Figure Skater Nathan Chen Nearly Breaks World Record in Flawless Performance at Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics have finally arrived after a long wait. Team USA is arguably the strongest contender heading to the Olympics. With the likes of Shaun White, Chloe Kim, and Mikaela Shiffrin, they have a core of world-class athletes. Another name in that illustrious list of athletes, Nathan Chen, can call himself an icon.

The current World Champion in figure skating only has eyes for gold at this year’s Olympics. During the team competitions, Chen showed the world why he has been touted as a favorite for gold. In a breathtaking performance during the short program team event, Nathan came extremely close to breaking the world record.

Nathan Chen nearly breaks the world record

The short program is a competition held before the free skate figure skating competition. Athletes perform their routines in a?highly technical and time-restricted competition. Hence, given Chen’s expertise and being the current World Champion, he showcased his talents with a terrific performance.

He put on a score of 111.71 in the short program, just 0.11 points below Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu, who holds the world record. Hanyu set a score of 111.82 during the ISU Four Continents Championships 2020.

Hanyu is a two-time Olympic gold medalist from the 2014 and the 2018 Winter Olympics. He is the key rival on Chen’s road to success.

But, this year, Chen seems determined to grab the gold medal. He showcased a sensational performance with his signature quadruple jumps. Thanks to his performance, the US lead the points tally with 28 points. They’re followed by ROC at 26 and China at 21.

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A terrific figure skater in full flow

Some of the jumps, turns, and spins he displayed on the ice were simply outstanding. After having a lackluster performance in Pyeongchang, fans had been waiting for a magical performance from the United States star in Beijing.

All eyes will be on Chen, this time around, with people hoping he can continue this momentum. His fluidic movements along with his charming personality make him a must-watch competitor. Can he win the gold medal this time around and end Hanyu’s reign?

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