Nathan Chen: “I’m very glad that we and the Japanese received our medals today because it is really important that people get what they have earned through hard work.”
Nathan Chen on the medal ceremony for the 2022 Beijing team event took place in Paris.
original source: Sport-Express dd. by Dmitrii Kuznetsov / MatchTV by Veronika Gabadieva
Russian journalists cite Nathan Chen’s answers questions about the metal ceremony taking place in Paris and Russian team being stripped of gold due to the disqualification of Kamila Valieva and even about Ilia Malinin and quints. Here’s a translation of his comments.
On August 7 in Paris, a medal ceremony for the U.S. and Japanese teams took place for the 2022 Beijing Olympics team figure skating competition. Russian athletes who were supposed to receive the bronze were not invited to the awarding ceremony.
“Q: Do you regret that the ceremony did not take place in Beijing right after the performance?
Nathan Chen: Beijing was special, of course, it is important to hold the ceremony at the venue of the competition. But we do not control this and should focus only on showing the best we can on the ice. I think we did that. And I am happy that we were ultimately able to receive the medals.
Q: How did you find out that you had become the Olympic champion in the team event? Where were you at that moment?
Nathan Chen: Honestly, I don’t remember where I was. We have a chat for American figure skaters. Everyone was very happy, and we are most proud of being able to give our all on the ice.”
“Nathan Chen: I wasn’t focused on the fact that the third spot on the podium was empty; I can’t worry about things that are beyond my control. I am very glad that we and the Japanese received our medals today because it is really important that people get what they have earned through hard work.
Q: What do you think of Ilia Malinin?
Nathan Chen: He is definitely impressive and makes figure skating more interesting. It’s fascinating to watch him.
Q: Are quintuple jumps possible?
Nathan Chen: They are possible, why not. Who knows?”
“Q: If Kamila Valieva were standing in front of you, what would you say?
Nathan Chen: This, again, is not in my hands. I spend my whole life planning, training, focused on the things I need to do. She isn’t even one of my competitors. I am only focused on what I need to do to be the best on the ice. Afterwards, following the Olympics, we were focused on sharing that moment as a team.
Q: But on a personal level, do you regret that everything happened this way?
Nathan Chen: Of course, but again, I am fully focused on myself. What happens with other athletes is outside my area of focus.”
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