U.S. figure skating champion Chen opts out of defending his Olympic gold medal in Italy competition
Olympic Figure Skating Champion Nathan Chen Pursues Medical Career
Nathan Chen, the three-time world champion and six-time US champion, has announced a significant career change. After a successful run in figure skating, the Olympic gold medalist is now applying to medical school.
Chen, who won the men's world titles in 2018, 2019, and 2021, and also claimed the men's crown in Beijing in 2022, has expressed a desire to help people in a way he felt was lacking in his athletic career. The 26-year-old, known as the "Quad King" for his skill at quadruple jumps, has set his sights on medicine, specifically cardiology and oncology, with a focus on genetics.
The Yale University graduate, who received his degree in statistics and data science last year, is currently seeking medical school programs. Chen has shown interest in cardiothoracic surgery but is cautious about the demanding work-life balance it entails.
Despite pausing his skating career, Chen remains involved with his nonprofit organization, Youth Taking Strides (YTS), which he helped found. He will miss competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, as he focuses on his new path.
Chen's decision to pursue a medical career comes after a satisfying skating career. He has already accomplished enough in the sport, and his new ambition reflects a desire for a more meaningful contribution. He stated that he feels a stronger sense of purpose in helping people as a doctor compared to his role as an athlete.
Chen holds the combined world record score of 335.30 from the 2019 Grand Prix Final at Turin. He helped the US team capture the gold medal in Beijing in 2022. However, his future plans outside of skating and medical school remain undisclosed.
As he prepares for the challenges ahead, Chen admitted that taking the MCAT was more nerve-wracking than competing in the Olympics. Regardless, he is open to wherever he is accepted in medical school. Chen's journey from the ice rink to the operating theatre promises to be an inspiring one.
- Nathan Chen's achievements in figure skating, including three world titles and an Olympic gold medal, have paved the way for his next ambitious endeavor – pursuing a medical career, specifically focusing on cardiology, oncology, and genetics.
- In line with his desire to help people more holistically, the Yale University graduate is currently seeking admission to medical school programs, showing an interest in cardiothoracic surgery but having concerns about the demanding work-life balance it requires.
- The skills and discipline cultivated during his skating career, such as adaptability and perseverance, will undoubtedly prove valuable as he transitions into the health-and-wellness field, contributing to his own education-and-self-development and potentially serving others.
- While pausing his skating career to focus on his new path, the "Quad King" will continue supporting his nonprofit organization, Youth Taking Strides, demonstrating that his commitment to promoting health and wellness extends beyond his own personal endeavors in both sports and science.
