Nathan Chen | Page 1057 | Golden Skate

Nathan Chen

Ic3Rabbit said:
Were you asking or doubting me and my message above in anyway. I didn't come here because I wasn't cheering Nathan on for the last decade or so. ;)
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Haha would never doubt you Ic3Rabbit. Thanks for all your insight and perspective from a professional standpoint throughout this thread. So glad you could share with us. Let’s enjoy the moment everyone, it’s a special time :)

Also can’t wait to the inevitable Raf interview. I’m sure it will be a usual mix of funny anecdotes, controversy, tough love, but also pride & soft spot for his golden boy.
 
heyheyhey said:
Haha would never doubt you Ic3Rabbit. Thanks for all your insight and perspective from a professional standpoint throughout this thread. So glad you could share with us. Let’s enjoy the moment everyone, it’s a special time :)

Also can’t wait to the inevitable Raf interview. I’m sure it will be a usual mix of funny anecdotes, controversy, tough love, but also pride & soft spot for his golden boy.
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I am so happy for Raf. Literally the work of a lifetime for him.
 
The all important Raf interview has dropped.
russian.rt.com

«Боюсь, что надорвусь и умру по дороге»: Арутюнян — о карьере тренера, старых обидах, уверенности Чена и акселе Ханю

Нэйтан Чен за последние дни тренировок в Пекине не сорвал практически ни одного элемента, а утром в день соревнований чисто откатал всю произвольную программу без единой паузы. Об этом в интервью RT рассказал наставник нового олимпийского чемпиона Рафаэль Арутюнян. По его словам, «это заставило...
russian.rt.com russian.rt.com
Translation: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/vaytsekhovskayas-interview-with-arutyunian.109412/
 
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sheetz said:
The all important Raf interview has dropped.
russian.rt.com

«Боюсь, что надорвусь и умру по дороге»: Арутюнян — о карьере тренера, старых обидах, уверенности Чена и акселе Ханю

Нэйтан Чен за последние дни тренировок в Пекине не сорвал практически ни одного элемента, а утром в день соревнований чисто откатал всю произвольную программу без единой паузы. Об этом в интервью RT рассказал наставник нового олимпийского чемпиона Рафаэль Арутюнян. По его словам, «это заставило...
russian.rt.com russian.rt.com
Translation: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/vaytsekhovskayas-interview-with-arutyunian.109412/
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting the translation. Haha as I said, it has everything I thought it would. I know people have their gripes about Raf sometimes but I hope all Nathan fans don’t take for granted the amount of emotional, physical, and mental investment Raf has put into this kid since he was 10 years old to make him the most dominant skater that has ever lived and to accomplish his dreams. Raf is not always the most eloquent or diplomatic person but in congratulating Nathan, we should also remember to give Raf and all of the coaching staff their flowers for the level of effort they have invested in him since he was a literal child. It really takes a village and Nate didn’t do it alone. In a sport where kids can get easily taken advantage of, I’m thankful that he was in good, safe hands that protected him and genuinely looked out for his best interest rather than their own. He’s truly lucky.

Also shout out to his mom who used to drive him from Utah and LA just for his training and would sleep in the car because they didn’t have enough money for anything else. Also uprooted her life to move permanently to LA so he can get the best training, sacrificed a lot to make sure her kid had a balance of still being able to be a kid while pursuing a very specific, intense dream, and knowing when to step back and let him take the reigns of his life when he was finally an adult because she prepared him so well. His parents raised some crazy talented kids and they all succeeded in their chosen paths, so good on them. Pretty cool that their kid wanted to go to the Olympics because of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and 20 years later he becomes Olympic Champion in mom’s hometown :)
 
sheetz said:
Amazing video of past US gold medalists welcoming Nathan to the club
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This is beyond amazing. I LOVE it. I cannot believe they brought all of these folks back. I haven't seen David or Hayes Alan Jenkins like ever. Dick Button has stopped making public appearances. That just shows how much they love and respect Nathan. What an honor and like always he was extremely gracious and grateful. :points:
 
sheetz said:
The all important Raf interview has dropped.
russian.rt.com

«Боюсь, что надорвусь и умру по дороге»: Арутюнян — о карьере тренера, старых обидах, уверенности Чена и акселе Ханю

Нэйтан Чен за последние дни тренировок в Пекине не сорвал практически ни одного элемента, а утром в день соревнований чисто откатал всю произвольную программу без единой паузы. Об этом в интервью RT рассказал наставник нового олимпийского чемпиона Рафаэль Арутюнян. По его словам, «это заставило...
russian.rt.com russian.rt.com
Translation: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/vaytsekhovskayas-interview-with-arutyunian.109412/
Click to expand...
Wow Raf expressed the same fear some of us had about that unbeaten streak. I was so relieved when he lost Skate America. I've seen Serena and others deal with streaks and it becomes such a burden.

Other things I found interesting: (1) the use of the quad loop as a mind game to get others nervous, (2) him being vehemently against skaters skating both parts of the TE, (3) his advice that Nathan should retire (sounds very Moskvina like).

He's a piece of work but I love a straight shooter. :biggrin:
 
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GGFan said:
Wow Raf expressed the same fear some of us had about that unbeaten streak. I was so relieved when he lost Skate America. I've seen Serena and others deal with streaks and it becomes such a burden.

Other things I found interesting: (1) the use of the quad loop as a mind game to get others nervous, (2) him being vehemently against skaters skating both parts of the TE, (3) his advice that Nathan should retire (sounds very Moskvina like).

He's a piece of work but I love a straight shooter. :biggrin:
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at least Nathan on his interviews did not completely shut it down. he can always finish college first and live life - get a girlfriend, party, while spending time in the rink and doing SOI from time to time, and should he want a comeback - there's always 2024-2026.
 
Some more thoughts after a night of reflection:

I was too invested in Nathan, so when I watched him perform, I was focused on his mistakes, wishing that he was absolutely perfect. After rewatching his performance when I wasn't so nervous, I noticed a lot of freedom and joy that I didn't when I was super nervous for him. It wasn't a perfect skate, but it was the best skate for him, and I am happy that he grew in this performance.

This morning, I realized I feel really sad, knowing that we have come to an end of an era. Nathan is not like Yuzu, completely obsessed with the sport, and Rafael is also satisfied with accomplishing his goal. From a previous interview, it sounded like Raf was saying they would go back to the Mozart Free in the future, but reading his most recent interview, I know that Raf was saying a lot of these things to scare Hanyu, lol, and so now that they have won, what he says now is more likely to be accurate. And he is all for Nathan retiring RIGHT now. :-(

I am also sad that we have never seen a competition where both Hanyu and Nathan skated their absolute best. Wouldn't that have been amazing???
 
zebobes said:
I think Hanyu fans would tell you that he never won Junior Worlds, so it doesn't qualify.

Speaking of Junior Worlds, it makes me sad to think that he got injured that year, so he never got to win his Junior World Title. The competition was also in my home city, and it would have been a chance for me to see him live.... I have never gotten a chance to see him skate in person....
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There is still time to book your stars on ice ticket ☺️
 
I think Raf will continue the consulting work with Illia so if Nathan keeps going there will potentially be some conflict in the future. Ultimately, it is up to Nathan to decide on his career.
 
sheetz said:
Amazing video of past US gold medalists welcoming Nathan to the club
Click to expand...
🥲 More tears… it hit me at the end that one day Nathan will be the one congratulating the next champion, for future generations. As much as I’m thrilled he won the Olympics, what I think I’ll remember most is his journey in the last 4 years. From the disappointment of 2018 to the victory at Beijing.
 
So I just went back and looked at YT videos of Baby Nathan (from 2008-2012 to start, age 8 to 12). Some detractors keep hitting him for his artistic skills, but he's been nothing but consistent since he was 8! He was doing hip hop dance moves at 12! His exhibition performance in 2012 as a junior was something some full grown men skaters couldn't pull off. Anyone with eyes back then could tell the sky was the limit for him. I'm not sure there's another skater out there who had such a public, meteoric rise from such a young age. The US may not have another like him for a very long time.
 
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