Worlds three-peat for U.S. men skaters? It doesn't figure

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Worlds three-peat for U.S. men skaters? It doesn't figure

After two busy weeks on the figure skating scene, including the U.S., Canadian and European Championships and the news of a season-ending injury for U.S. phenom Nathan Chen, let’s catch our breath for a look of what it all means to U.S. singles skaters as they look toward the 2016 World Championships.

Today, a look at the men’s situation.  Tomorrow, the women.

*The loss of Chen to a hip avulsion fracture that required surgery will have minimal impact on the United States’ slim-to-no chance of keeping its three men’s spots for the 2017 World Figure Skating Championships.

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It took just two villages to raise L.A. 2024 Olympic hopes

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It took just two villages to raise L.A. 2024 Olympic hopes

Los Angeles has thrown down the gantlet to the International Olympic Committee.

As in: Put up or shut up, IOC members, about all those lofty reformist ideas for economically and logistically saner Olympic Games that you approved by acclamation 14 months ago.

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Chen undergoes surgery, to miss both skate world championships

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Chen undergoes surgery, to miss both skate world championships

The decision on whether Nathan Chen should compete in either of the world figure skating championships for which he qualified no longer is discretionary.

The injury Chen suffered on a failed quadruple jump attempt during Sunday’s exhibition gala after the U.S. Championships has required left hip surgery that will knock him out of both the world juniors and world championships in late March.

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Coach: Chen's future health more important than skating in worlds

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Coach: Chen's future health more important than skating in worlds

Whether phenom Nathan Chen competes at either of the two world figure skating championships for which he has qualified will depend on a medical evaluation of the injury he sustained Sunday evening.

“What matters is not these worlds.  What matters is that he is healthy for the future,” Rafael Arutunian, the skater’s coach, told me by telephone Tuesday afternoon.

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Chen leaps into history again and, thankfully, gets world team spot

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Chen leaps into history again and, thankfully, gets world team spot

ST. PAUL, Minn, -- U.S. Figure Skating officials finally got the message.

They rewarded a history-making performance by Nathan Chen with a place on the U.S. team for this year’s senior World Championships.

It would have been better if their judges also gave the 16-year-old Chen the scores he deserved at the national meet that ended Sunday, but sending him to worlds is a step in the right direction for an organization stuck in a talent-development rut.

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