Nathan Chen, the Olympic gold medalist in figure skating from the 2022 Beijing Games, has transitioned away from competitive skating to pursue medical school.

Career Highlights

Chen dominated men's figure skating, securing individual gold in 2022 alongside a team gold, three world championships, and six U.S. national titles. He set a world record in 2019 for the highest combined score at the Grand Prix Final and graduated from Yale with a degree in statistics and data science. No major injuries or scandals have marked his recent years; past withdrawals, like from 2022 Worlds due to a nagging injury, were minor setbacks.

Latest Update

In August 2025, the now-26-year-old announced he would skip the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics—set to begin February 6, 2026—to focus on medicine, eyeing fields like cardiology or oncology tied to genetics. He told the LA Times he's "quite satisfied" with his skating achievements and hasn't competed since 2022, viewing this as a natural pivot rather than formal retirement. As of early February 2026, no new developments like injuries or comebacks have surfaced; recent coverage ties him to commentary on ongoing Olympic events.

Why the Shift?

Chen described the MCAT as more nerve-racking than Olympic pressure, signaling his readiness for intellectual challenges beyond the ice. This move aligns with his academic background and desire to "help others," echoing the poise that defined his comeback from early stumbles, like the 2018 Olympics short program falls. Forums and fans respect the choice, seeing it as a mature evolution for a skater who peaked early and gracefully.

Trending Context

Online discussions remain positive, with Reddit threads from years past praising his resilience but little fresh speculation. Current buzz around 2026 Olympics figure skating, including Team USA's strong start, occasionally references Chen's absence as a pivot to new horizons rather than loss.

TL;DR: Nathan Chen is alive, well, and thriving—swapping skates for stethoscopes by attending med school instead of the 2026 Olympics.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.