Figure Skating: 10 Skaters to Watch for the Upcoming Season

1. Nathan Chen (USA), Men

Nathan Chen was turning heads from a very young age. From the time he won the national Novice title in 2010, at ten years of age, he’s been considered one to watch. Even before last year, he’d already had success on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. When he came out guns and quadruple jumps blazing to win both his events before dominating the Junior Grand Prix Finale, there was already talk of his possibly even making the team for senior Worlds.

At Nationals, he not only did just that, but he landed six quads across two programs, a record for an American man. When he won bronze, many debated he’d been underscored, and should’ve won gold. He was indeed named to the World team, only to tear part of his hip bone out during the exhibition gala, taking him off the ice for the rest of the season. It was an especially bad loss for US men in general. Especially when one considers that, had he been there, Chen could have easily ridden his quads and his presence on the ice to a higher finish than any of the three men who went instead.

As it is, if he can get healthy, he could easily arrive at Nationals in January favorite for gold. He has everything he needs to not only establish himself as the undisputed top US man, but as a medal contender in every event he enters, including Worlds and the Olympics.

Next: Mikhail Kolyada (RUS), Men