Nathan Chen’s resume reads like a record book. Olympic champion in 2022, three-time world champion, six-time U.S. national champion, and the first skater to land six quadruple jumps in a single free skate at the Games. Known worldwide as the “Quad King,” Chen also strung together the longest winning streak in modern figure skating and became the first Asian American man to win Olympic gold in men’s singles. His consistency under pressure made him the United States’ most reliable medal source. Now, with less than a year until the Milano Cortina Games, he will not be on the ice, a decision that leaves US figure skating facing problems far beyond the loss of a household name.

Chen last competed on February 10, 2022, when he delivered five clean quads to secure gold in Beijing. He also helped the United States win the team event, becoming the first singles skater in Olympic history to claim two gold medals in the same Games. Since then, he has turned to academics, completing his Yale degree, applying to medical schools, and launching skating seminars with Olympic ice dancer Jean-Luc Baker. “I’ve already accomplished enough in skating that I’m quite satisfied with my career,” Chen told the Los Angeles Times. His decision, while personal, shifts the competitive outlook for the U.S. team in 2026.

Nathan Chen’s absence leaves US without its surest Olympic medal

The most immediate issue is the loss of what coaches often call a “high-probability medal.” In Olympic planning, such an athlete is a near certainty for the podium barring injury. Chen’s dominance from 2018 to 2022 made him precisely that. Without him, the US loses a points cushion that affects not just medal tallies but morale. While Ilia Malinin has emerged as the world’s leading men’s singles skater, even his recent back-to-back world titles do not entirely erase the gap left by Chen’s departure.

How, without Nathan Chen, US risks losing crucial points in Olympic team event

The team event amplifies that gap. In Olympic figure skating, one skater’s placement can shift the entire podium outcome for the country. In Beijing, Chen’s first-place finish in the men’s short program contributed a maximum score to the U.S. total. Without a consistent, proven veteran to guarantee top-tier placement, the Americans face tighter margins in an event decided by small point differences. A single off day from a replacement could cost a medal.

How US has been put in tough spot between quota spots and athlete picks

There is also the distinction between earning Olympic quota spots and actually nominating athletes. U.S. men’s figure skating secured its quota places for 2026 through results at the 2025 World Championships. That achievement does not automatically solve the problem of who will fill those spots. The absence of Nathan Chen forces the selection committee to balance potential against proven performance, knowing that a poor nomination choice could waste a hard-earned place.

US skaters face big shoes to fill in post-Chen Olympic era

Replacement candidates bring promise but also uncertainty. Malinin remains the centerpiece, with his historic quadruple Axel and growing list of titles. Jason Brown offers artistry and Olympic experience but has never been a consistent quad jumper. Andrew Torgashev, Camden Pulkinen, Maxim Naumov, and rising juniors such as Daniel Martynov and Jacob Sanchez have shown flashes of international competitiveness. However, none yet combines Chen’s technical ceiling with his composure under Olympic pressure.

Chen’s exit threatens to repeat past Olympic medal setbacks for US skating

History offers sobering perspective. When the United States lost key skaters before past Games, the medal impact was immediate. The absence of Michelle Kwan in 2006 and Evan Lysacek in 2014 shifted team standings and reduced individual medal opportunities. Chen’s withdrawal risks a similar pattern in 2026, especially given the narrow margins in both singles and the team event.

For Chen, the choice is about life beyond skating. “The basis of being a doctor, I think, is to help people,” he said, contrasting that with the athlete’s role. For US figure skating, however, the timing forces a recalculation of Olympic strategy. The sport may be entering a golden era with Malinin, Alysa Liu, and dominant ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, but the men’s singles depth chart now has one conspicuous vacancy, one that could shape the American medal count in Milan.