The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing have showcased the talents of many figure skaters, including two American stars who share the same last name: Nathan Chen and Karen Chen. Both of them have impressed the world with their skills and grace on the ice, but are they related to each other? Here’s what you need to know.
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The Short Answer: No, They Are Not Related
Despite their figure skating success and identical surname, Nathan Chen and Karen Chen are not related to each other. They are both American citizens of Chinese descent, but their parents come from different regions of China. Nathan’s parents are from mainland China, while Karen’s parents are from Taiwan, an island that has a complicated relationship with the Chinese government.
According to Heavy.com, Nathan Chen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up there. He has four siblings who also practice figure skating or ice dancing. He graduated from West High School in Salt Lake City and is currently studying at Yale University.
Karen Chen was born in Fremont, California, and still lives there. She has one younger brother who also practices ice dancing. She graduated from Connections Academy, an online school, and is currently studying at Cornell University.
The Long Answer
The Olympic Journey of Nathan Chen and Karen Chen
Nathan Chen and Karen Chen have both competed in two Winter Olympics, but their paths have been quite different. Nathan Chen is widely regarded as one of the best figure skaters in the world, especially for his ability to land multiple quadruple jumps in his programs. He is a five-time U.S. national champion, a three-time world champion, and a two-time Grand Prix Final champion. He also holds the world records for the highest scores in the men’s short program, free skate, and total score.
In his first Olympics in 2018, Nathan Chen had a disappointing performance in the team event and the individual short program, falling several times and placing 17th. However, he redeemed himself in the free skate, landing six quads and setting an Olympic record for the highest score in that segment. He moved up to fifth place overall, but missed the podium.
In his second Olympics in 2022, Nathan Chen was determined to win a medal. He helped the U.S. team secure a silver medal in the team event, scoring the highest in both the men’s short program and free skate. He then went on to win his first individual gold medal, beating his rival Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan by more than 20 points. He became the seventh U.S. man to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating, and the first since Evan Lysacek in 2010.
Karen Chen, on the other hand, has had a more challenging journey to the Olympics. She started skating at age four, inspired by her idol Kristi Yamaguchi, who also hails from Fremont, California. She won her first U.S. national title in 2017, earning a spot on the 2018 Olympic team. However, she struggled with injuries and boot problems, and finished 11th in Pyeongchang.
After the 2018 Olympics, Karen Chen decided to take a break from skating and enroll at Cornell University. She thought about quitting skating altogether, but changed her mind after realizing how much she loved it. She returned to competition in 2020, but faced more setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and another injury.
She made a comeback in 2021, winning her third U.S. national bronze medal and qualifying for her second Olympics. In Beijing, she helped the U.S. team win a silver medal in the team event, placing fourth in the women’s free skate. She also improved her personal best score in the women’s short program, placing fifth and advancing to the free skate final.
The Friendship Between Nathan Chen and Karen Chen
Despite not being related, Nathan Chen and Karen Chen have developed a friendship over the years. They often support each other on social media, using the hashtag 2Chenz to show their bond. They also share some common experiences as Asian American athletes representing their country on the world stage.
According to 11Alive.com, Nathan Chen said he feels a connection with Karen Chen because they both have Chinese heritage and are skating in Beijing. He said he remembers visiting China as a child and seeing some of the places where his mother grew up.
Karen Chen said she feels proud to be an Asian American skater and hopes to inspire others like her. She said she admires Nathan Chen for his achievements and looks up to him as a role model.
“I think it’s really cool that we’re both here representing Team USA,” Karen Chen said. “I think it’s really awesome that we’re both Asian American skaters because I feel like there aren’t that many of us out there.”
She added: “I think it’s really important for us to show that we can do this too.”
