Utah native, 2022 Olympic gold medalist Nathan Chen honored by state

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Olympic gold medalist, Nathan Chen was recognized by the governor as he returned back home to Utah Wednesday.

Chen is in town as part of the Stars on Ice Tour. He said one of his first stops in Salt Lake was Red Iguana.

During his performance tonight, he mentioned he will have some personal guests, including first-time coaches, previous teachers and his mother.

Gov. Cox issued a proclamation officially congratulating Salt Lake native Nathan Chen for his achievements and said Chen represents our state and country well.

Chen thanked the Governor, the Utah Sports Commission, and his skating club.

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“I took my first steps on the ice here in Salt Lake at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex and I can’t believe how far they’ve taken me," Chen said. "The inspiration that the 2002 Olympics gave me carried me all the way to my two Olympics in Korea and in China.”

One of Chen’s first coaches here in Salt Lake, Stephanee Grosscup, shared video with 2News of what she believes was Chen’s very first competition which he went on to win.

He started skating right around the time Salt Lake City hosted the winter games. 2News asked Chen if he would help advocate to get the games back to Salt Lake.

“Of course, yes. I mean anything that I can do at this point," Chen said. "As I said I know how inspirational the Olympics can be and without the Olympics I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to have an ice rink so close to me.”

Jeff Robbins, President of the Utah Sports Commission and part of the Salt Lake City Utah Committee for the games, said Chen is actually an ambassador for the committee.

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“He’s a great ambassador,” Robbins said. “All of the athletes we have helping us on the bid are great ambassadors.”

He said their notoriety helps with more than just landing another Olympics.

“They help us with our image, they help us spread what a great place Utah is as a state, the cities they are from," Robbins said. "They certainly help us with our bid but the help and assistance is much broader because people know them globally."

Hopefully Salt Lake can land the games as smoothly as Chen lands his jumps.

“To be able to have it again in Salt Lake is something I think is really important,” Chen said. “It can really inspire a lot of young athletes to either get introduced to sports or just to continue pushing for their dreams.”