3:05 AM
It's Incredible in Nashville, Tennessee. It is amazing. Awesome.
That was only for the short program.
Nathan Chen, clearly back on his game, set a short program record at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday.
Four skaters broke the 100 mark as they tried to get into the Olympics.
The U.S. national short program was insane, according to Chen, who beat the event mark of 114.13 he set in 2020. "Everyone laid down amazing programs."
It is the first time in more than 50 years that a two-time Olympic winner got seven in a row.
Chen sent a message to all his competitors with a performance full of superb footwork and spins that included two massive quads.
It was too high above the ice and on the judges' score sheets. Chen's main competition was excellent, though, as he nailed the quad lutz-triple toe loop that he did for a score of 112.78 that was a personal best, and he appeared relaxed and confident throughout his program.
Nathan Chen broke his own event short- program record on Saturday at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, when he scored 115.39 to top 100.
Zhou said it was one of the craziest short program events. The general idea, the pressure was on, so I'm honored to have the opportunity to compete.
In a brilliant display of skating for most of the men's field, Ilia Malinin jumped his way to third place ahead of veteran Jason Brown, 103.46 to 100.84.
"It's amazing to have such strong U.S. competitors, especially heading into an Olympic season," Chen said. We'll have a really strong team there regardless of who gets to go. I can't control anything else.
Chen's run of 14 consecutive victories since the Olympics was in doubt after he struggled at October's Skate America. His return to the top began a week later with a win at Skate Canada, and he was as good as ever on Saturday.
Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan will be the favorite at the Beijing Games. There has been no man in the modern era who has won three consecutive Olympic golds. Since the short program debacle, Chen has not lost to Hanyu. Hanyu's short program score was four points lower than Chen's on Saturday.
"I'm grateful to have the chance to compete and not have the Olympics be my first since the Grand Prix," Chen said.
Zhou won a bronze medal at the worlds, three U.S. silver medals behind Chen, and won the Skate America title earlier this year.
He didn't even make the free skate at the world championships after falling in the short program. He won the Nebelhorn Trophy to get a third men's Olympic spot for the U.S.
Zhou was sixth in South Korea, one spot behind Chen.
Fans of the rising force on the U.S. scene have referred to him as a "quad god". He lived up to his billing with a program that was quad-filled and had some dynamic spins.
"I was surprised to see it, because I had dreamed of getting over 100, but I never knew I could do it," he said. If you put in the time and effort, you can achieve anything.
Brown earned a bronze medal in the team event when he performed the free skate at the Olympics. He showed his staying power in the short program on Saturday, despite being beaten out for the Olympics.
The snowstorm and frigid temperatures this week probably made getting to Nashville more difficult for Brown.
After 33 hours of travel, 5 canceled flights, 4 airline changes, 3 airports, and an overnight in Atlanta, a rental car, and a ton of help... He posted on social media that they had made it to Nashville.
Then he put out a flowing, powerful, high-speed routine that had the crowd on its feet before Brown finished with a flourish, then sat on the ice and soaked in the cheers.
Brown's 100.84 points placed him fourth even though he couldn't match the quads of Malinin.
"For me, the only thing I knew was the reaction of the crowd, which was awesome to see them all on their feet," he said. The scores came up. It's what you can do in that moment, skating your skate and putting your best foot forward. I can only win at my own game.
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