When the men’s figure skating competition began on Saturday, February 7, many fans noticed one familiar name missing from the Olympic ice: Nathan Chen.
The Olympic gold medalist last competed on the sport’s biggest stage at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, where he delivered one of the most dominant performances in figure skating history. Chen won gold in the men’s singles event and added a second gold as part of Team USA’s team competition.
As the 2026 Winter Olympics unfold, Chen is present in Italy — but not as a competitor.
Nathan Chen Explains Why He Is Not Competing in the 2026 Olympics
Chen has not officially retired from figure skating, but he previously confirmed he would not compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics while he attends medical school.
“I just want to open doors to kind of see what’s the best sort of approach for me,” Chen told The Los Angeles Times in August. “And frankly, at this point in time in my life, I’ve already accomplished enough in skating that I’m quite satisfied with my career.”
Chen has not competed since Beijing 2022, where he became the only male singles skater to win two gold medals at a single Olympics. His decision marked a pause rather than a formal retirement, but it removed one of the sport’s most dominant forces from the competitive field.
Chen Attends the 2026 Games in a New Role
Although he is not skating, Chen has traveled to Italy and is attending the men’s figure skating competition at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
“This time, I’ll be watching from the stands,” Chen said. “Now, I get to see what it looks like on the other side.”
During the Games, Chen is expected to meet with sponsors and provide commentary for Utah 2034 Olympic donors while observing the men’s field. His presence reflects how closely his legacy remains tied to the sport, even without stepping onto the ice.
Team USA’s New Gold Medal Favorite Emerges
With Chen absent, Team USA’s gold medal hopes now rest with Ilia Malinin, widely known as the “Quad God.”
The 20-year-old has redefined technical difficulty in men’s skating, becoming the first skater to land the quadruple axel in competition. Entering these Games, Malinin carries significant expectations and overwhelming betting odds that give him between a 90% and 99% chance to win gold.
While Malinin’s style is uniquely his own, many experts credit Chen for paving the way.
How Nathan Chen Changed Men’s Figure Skating
Chen earned the nickname “The Quad King” for his mastery of quadruple jumps, helping transform quads from occasional risk elements into competitive necessities.
“Without Nathan, we would not be seeing multiple quads in a performance all the time,” said Tara Lipinski, who leads NBC’s figure skating coverage alongside Johnny Weir, Cia The Salt Lake City Tribune. “Nathan really revolutionized men’s skating, and Ilia is redefining that in a different way, in a more evolved way.”
After a disastrous short program that left him 17th, Chen attempted six quads in the free skate, landing five and vaulting into fifth overall.
By 2022, Chen’s clean execution of five different quad jumps made him nearly unbeatable.
Chen Credits His Generation for the Quad Revolution
Despite his influence, Chen downplays sole responsibility for the sport’s technical explosion.
He credits fellow competitors including Shoma Uno and Team USA skater Vincent Zhou for pushing the limits alongside him.
“My generation certainly left an impact,” Chen said. “We were pushing quads like crazy.”
Even from the stands, Chen’s fingerprints remain all over men’s figure skating — visible in every quad rotation and every skater chasing the standard he helped set.
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