Chen comfortable under pressure as an Olympic favorite
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Imagine working for years, targeting one of the most elusive goals in sports.
Then recognizing that all of those practices and training and competitions lead to four minutes or so when you must be at your best. Or else the dream collapses.
That’s how American figure skaters approach this week’s national championships, which serve as the United States’ qualifier for the Pyeongchang Olympics in February and begin Wednesday.
“I definitely think there is additional pressure,” defending men’s champion Nathan Chen said. “But it is reassuring. I am happy with the way things have gone, happy I am in this position. This is what I wanted for a long time. I personally remind myself to embrace it.”
America could embrace Chen, who comes off a Grand Prix Final victory and, with his five quadruple jumps in his free skate, has ratcheted up the technical level for all men. He’ll be a heavy favorite to make the Olympic squad, and a strong contender for a medal in South Korea.
“Every competition is different, regardless of how you prepare yourself or how you look at it, it always will be a little bit different,” said the 18-year-old from Salt Lake City. “Through all the experiences I have had so far, I kind of know what to expect from a pressure standpoint, and the pressure is always pretty similar. And it really helps me approach the competition from a skating aspect better; I know how to get myself physically ready. So when the competition happens, I can turn to more mental things.”
There’s no overwhelming favorite in the women’s event, which could come down to the experience of three-time national champion Ashley Wagner, a Sochi bronze winner in the team event, and 2010 Olympian Mirai Nagasu.
There’s no Michelle Kwan or Tara Lipinski around who could push aside the Russians or Japanese who form the strength of the women’s division.
“The constant struggle in our sport always is finding the balance between artistry and the technical side, the athletic side of the sport,” Lipinski said. “But I think that’s what makes skating so magical is because everyone does have their own different preferences and opinions. It’s definitely a bit more interesting than a sport that has a finish line.”
The finish line in ice dance could include an American couple on the Olympic podium. Maia and Alex Shibutani have followed in the steps of Sochi champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White. The sister-brother combo is a strong choice to win a third U.S. title.
“This is definitely a different role, we were learning when we went to Sochi,” Alex Shibutani said. “We were very lucky that when we entered the senior ranks, we were traveling with Charlie and Meryl and they were our training mates and friends. They were at a different stage of their career than we were. That sort of prepared us for the stage we are at now.”