Nathan Chen’s performance will be likely measure of U.S. figure skating results at 2022 Winter Olympics
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Winner and still champion: Nathan Chen gets a traditional boxing salute from coach Rafael Arutunian after Chen took a sixth straight U.S. title (U.S. Figure Skating photo)
Four years ago, the U.S. figure skating team had its worst results ever at the Winter Olympics.
The 2022 team named after the U.S. Championships ended Sunday could do better than 2018 – although it may not be a substantial improvement, and the assessment of it will depend largely on Nathan Chen’s performance in men’s singles.
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Some of the U.S. results decline owes to the overwhelming recent dominance of Russia in women’s singles. Some owes to Japan’s becoming a consistent power in women’s and men’s singles over the past 12 years. General interest in the sport in those two countries has risen commensurately while dropping in the United States.
And the hopes for 2022? Realistically, a medal in men’s singles and in the team event and a chance for one in ice dance.
