Olympic champion Nathan Chen voted into U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, set to be inducted next month
Beijing 2022 Olympic figure skating champion Nathan Chen will be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame next month, the organization announced Tuesday, December 2nd. The induction ceremony is scheduled for January 9 in St. Louis, Missouri, coinciding with the exciting 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Here, current competitors will be vying for coveted Olympic spots for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
At just 26 years old, Chen has not made a formal retirement announcement but hasn’t competed since his incredible double-gold performance in Beijing. During that memorable event, he dominated the men’s singles and contributed significantly to Team USA’s success in the team event. Chen also made a splash during his Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018, earning a bronze medal and finishing fifth in singles.
“I’m seeing where else life takes me,” Chen stated in a previous interview, actively considering plans to apply for medical school. His future remains uncertain, but he has certainly left an indelible mark on the sport.
Alongside him in this prestigious induction is his longtime coach, Rafael Arutunian. Together, they have transformed Chen into one of the most formidable jumpers in the history of the sport. Notably, he became the first man to execute five quadruple jumps in a single program, a monumental achievement that places him alongside skating greats like Yuzuru Hanyu and Patrick Chan.
Chen’s accolades include holding the all-time score record for men’s figure skating, a staggering 335.30 achieved at the 2019 Grand Prix Final. Dominating the national scene, he clinched six consecutive U.S. titles from 2016 to 2022 and earned gold at 11 of 12 international competitions in the Olympic quad leading up to Beijing.
His victory at the recent Olympics made him the seventh American male to win Olympic gold in figure skating, a feat not seen since Evan Lysacek captured gold in Vancouver 2010.
