Winter Olympians from 2022, including Utah’s figure skater Nathan Chen, get gold medals at Paris 2024 Games

Nathan Chen and US Teammates from 2022 get gold medals in 2024 at Paris Olympics. Photo: Augie Roepke

PARIS —The US figure skating team, including Salt Lake City’s two-time Olympian Nathan Chen, finally claimed their rightful gold medals from the 2022 Beijing Olympics during a special ceremony held in Paris on Wednesday at Champions Park.

Chen told NBC after the Paris ceremony, “I’m just really proud of the team in the way that we put down programs in Beijing. I think that’s something that I’m most proud about. So, regardless of what happens outside of the sport, we can’t really control things, we can only control the performance on the ice. I’m really happy that we actually had this moment, finally. That was one of our biggest wishes, to ensure that we had a medal ceremony together at an Olympics, and the fact that we got that was incredible.”

Chen now has two gold, and one bronze medal to his name.

This event marked a culmination of a long-awaited journey for the American athletes, who had been deprived of their victory due to the doping scandal involving the Russian team. The ceremony, held in the heart of Paris with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop, offered a stark contrast to the muted atmosphere of the Beijing Olympics, which were heavily impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.

Although Team USA learned months ago that they’d be given the new medals, it wasn’t until days ago that they learned that that would take place at a special ceremony at the Paris Olympics.

The nine American skaters, including stars like Chen and Alexa Knierim, were joined by their Japanese counterparts who received upgraded silver medals. The ceremony was a celebration of athleticism and fair play, a stark departure from the controversies that marred the original competition. The crowd, including family, friends, and fans, erupted in cheers as the US national anthem was played, creating a truly unforgettable moment for the athletes.

Beyond the medals, this event highlighted the ongoing battle against doping in sports. The delayed ceremony served as a reminder of the importance of clean competition and the consequences of cheating. It also showcased the resilience of the athletes who had to endure the disappointment of a stolen victory, only to emerge triumphant in the end.