Two-time U.S. champion Nathan Chen accepts the 2017 Readers' Choice Award at the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
For the second consecutive year, fans have voted Nathan Chen as winner of SKATING magazine's Readers' Choice Skater of the Year Award.
Chen received 30.3 percent of the vote, which was conducted online via the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone between June 25 and July 2. Each year since 1989, skating fans have been asked to vote for the eligible skater(s) whom they believe is most deserving of the award based on the accomplishments of the past season.
Finishing second was Adam Rippon, with 18.1 percent of the vote and the Skyliners junior team that placed third with 15.7 percent.
For Chen, it was a superb season. The-then 18-year-old from Salt Lake City started his campaign by winning both of his ISU Grand Prix Series events at Rostelecom Cup and Skate America. Those victories propelled him to the Grand Prix Final in Japan, where he edged home country favorite Shoma Uno by less than one point to win the crown.
From there, Chen won his second consecutive U.S. title in San Jose, California, by a margin of nearly 41 points.
His next stop was the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, where he helped Team USA earn a bronze medal in the team event. While his short programs didn't go well in both the team event and individual event at the Olympics, Chen rebounded to dominate the free skate and jump from 17th place to fifth overall.
Chen's season concluded with a bang at the World Championships in Milan, Italy, where he landed six quads in his free skate to win by nearly 48 points. He set personal-best scores for his free skate (219.46) and overall (321.40).
Being chosen as a repeat winner of the Readers' Choice Award, he said, is extra special.
"Thanks to all my fans for this prestigious honor," Chen said. "When I look at the list of great skaters who have won this award multiple times, I'm humbled and honored to be in such select company. Having that support means everything to me as I continue to chase my skating dreams.
"I'm looking forward to this season and being able to say thank you in person at the various events in which I will be competing."
Chen will receive the coveted Michelle Kwan Trophy at the 2019 U.S. Championships in Detroit in January. The Michelle Kwan Trophy in a one-of-a-king crystal sculpture that's produced by Crystal Signatures in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Originally published in the August/September issue of SKATING magazine.
