Growing up is hard, and having Olympic aspirations can make it even harder — but balancing school, sports and a social life was no problem for figure skater Nathan Chen.
“[My mom] loved to keep us all super busy,” the Olympic hopeful said of his childhood alongside his four siblings in Utah and California. “I did gymnastics, I played hockey, I played piano … I did a whole bunch of different things outside of skating. It was awesome to be able to have almost a normal kid’s life.”
Chen, who turned 18 in May, attended public school up until ninth grade and managed to balance his studies with his many hobbies, which also included guitar and ballet. When he and his family moved closer to Los Angeles, however, the time came for the budding athlete to make a choice.
Kelsey Driscoll 