Do Harsh and Punishing Coaching Techniques Make Better Athletes? Nathan Chen Shares His Opinion
Follow Us
22-year-old American figure skater Nathan Chen finally won his first Olympic gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022. Chen’s first Winter Olympics were in 2018 in Pyeongchang, where he finished with a bronze individual title.
Now, with his golden victory in 2022, Chen is enjoying the limelight and adulation of the world. Naturally, with a golden victory also come interviews and the public eye, and Chen is no stranger to either.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
On the contrary, there has been plenty of controversy around Russian figure skater, Kamila Valieva. Moreover, her coach came under fire for being too harsh on the teenager, and here’s Chen’s opinion on the same.
Nathan Chen talks about whether harsh coaching is necessary
Nathan Chen, off his maiden gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics, talked about whether harsh coaching is the only way to achieve results. In his interview with The New Yorker, he referred to Kamila Valieva, and how her coach Eteri Tutberidze berated her for falling.
Subsequently, the president of the International Olympic Association called the incident disturbing. However, the Kremlin responded by saying that the key to achieving results in high-level sports is a coach’s harshness.
Trending
Shaq Warns Lakers Locker Room Of Jeanie Buss Game Plan If Darvin Ham & Co Fail Vs Nuggets
April 24, 2024 09:42 PM EDT
Exclusive: After Claiming He Can Beat Caitlin Clark 1v1, Iowa’s No.1 NFL Draft Prospect Cooper DeJean Comes Clean
April 25, 2024 03:12 PM EDT
Why Is Olivia Dunne Under Fire for Code Violation?
April 24, 2024 06:21 PM EDT
“RIP”: Track World Mourns Loss of Virginia’s 23-Year-Old NCAA Star
April 24, 2024 05:30 PM EDT
After Confirming Patriots Interest, JJ McCarthy Reveals Tom Brady Was Speaking to Him Throughout National Championship Winning Season
April 24, 2024 07:04 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
“Even athletes assume that other athletes are these unbeatable marble towers,” the Olympic figure-skating champion Nathan Chen says. “And now the narrative is switching, like—Hey, we’re also humans, and we also have to respect ourselves as humans.”https://t.co/C8FVWcGFMR
— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) February 27, 2022
When asked about his opinion on the matter, Nathan Chen stated how “there has to be discipline to the sport.” He opined that “there has to be a certain amount of time and hours that you spend (practicing).”
Then, he addressed mistakes. “I don’t think you need to necessarily punish, but I do think you have to be strict,” Chen stated. According to Nathan Chen, “the sport has to be very precise and defined”.
Nathan Chen Accuses Russian Doping Controversy for Taking Away His “Special Moment” With Team USA
Thus, “it’s important to note certain mistakes and to hold an athlete to a certain standard of accomplishment.” However, Chen disagrees with any punishment, per se. “I don’t think there has to be any physical punishment, any verbal punishment,” the two-time Olympic medalist expressed.
Chen describes his personal coaching experiences
Speaking about his own relationships with authority figures in his life, Chen was quite forthcoming. “I’ve had very healthy relationships with my coaches, a very healthy relationship with my parents,” he said.
Chen stated that he has had healthy relationships with fellow athletes and teammates, too. “I’ve been able to do pretty well in the sport, you know,” he said, expressing the sentiment that harsh and punishing coaching is not the only way to win.
Then, he praised his own coach, Rafael Arutyunyan. “He guides us and allows us to develop on our own time,” Chen described. “He’s very aware of the fact that we, as humans, need rest, that we need time to recover,” Chen continued.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Hi, it's me, and I'm here to remind you that coach of both Nathan Chen and Adam Rippon is Rafael Arutyunyan, an Armenian born in Georgia (the country) who immigrated to the U.S. 17 years ago. He also coached Michelle Kwan, Mao and Asada ok byeeeee
— Liana Aghajanian (@LianaAgh) February 17, 2018
Moreover, he also shared how his coach “believes in us, too. He gives us the opportunity to continue growing and doing what we believe we need, and he fully trusts that”. Clearly, the Olympic gold medalist has no qualms regarding his relationship with his coach.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
WATCH THIS STORY: Nathan Chen Gets Gold: U.S. Figure Skater Dazzles to Win at 2022 Winter Olympics
It goes to show how there is never a certain set-in-stone technique to reach your fullest potential.