Nathan Chen
An American figure skater who redefined men's skating with unprecedented quadruple jumps, capturing Olympic gold and dominating his era.
Born 1999 (age 27)·American figure skater·Birthday: May 5·Generation Z
Biography
Nathan Chen landed five quadruple jumps in a single free skate at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, winning the individual gold medal. He brought a mathematician's precision to quadruple jumps, moves once considered rare. His journey included early junior success and a disappointing short program at his first Olympics in 2018. He responded by piling up U.S. national titles and world championships. Chen retired as one of the most technically gifted skaters in history.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Nathan was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nathan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Nathan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the individual men's figure skating gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
- Captured three World Figure Skating Championships titles (2018, 2019, 2021).
- Became a six-time consecutive U.S. national champion from 2017 to 2022.
- Won three Grand Prix Final championships, a season-ending event for the sport's top skaters.
- Earned an Olympic team event bronze in 2018 and gold in 2022.
Did You Know?
He is also a talented ballet dancer and trained extensively in ballet to improve his skating artistry.
He attended Yale University, balancing a full-time Ivy League course load with elite training.
He landed five quadruple jumps in his free skate at the 2022 Olympics.
He started skating at age three after watching his older brothers play ice hockey.
“I just want to be remembered as someone who pushed the sport forward.”
