The 2022 Winter Olympics are in full swing, and athletes from across the globe are competing in their respective sports, hoping to win the coveted gold medal. They’re also breaking world records, like the United States’ Nathan Chen. After what he called a disastrous debut four years ago in Pyeongchang, Chen resumed his redemption journey with an authoritative, world-record-setting performance during the men’s short program in Beijing. Now he holds a strong lead after the first day of competition. Like 2018, Chen is a favorite for the gold medal at these Olympic Games, but there’s no sign of nerves or pressure this time around.

The 22-year-old had a nearly perfect performance, which included two quadruple jumps and a triple axel, and recorded the top score of the day at 113.97, the highest short program score in figure skating history. Typically, Chen is apathetic, hiding his emotions. However, he gave an emotional fist pump at the end of his routine. After his performance, Chen said, “I was elated,” in an NBC interview. He went on to say, “Last Olympics, both short programs didn’t go the way I wanted, and to finally get the opportunity to skate the programs the way that I wanted — it feels really great. It means a lot.”

Days after finishing first in the men’s short program during the team event and helping the Americans get a silver medal, Chen clarified that he’s no longer traumatized by his 2018 Pyeonchang performance. In those games, Chen fell in the short program of both competitions. Since then, he’s won three world championship titles. Now just the free skate, and two Japanese skaters, Yuma Kagiyama and Shoma Uno, stand in his way of a coveted Olympic gold medal.

The 18-year-old Kagiyama had a second-place finish in the short program with a 108.12 score, and Uno, who took home the silver in 2018, now sits in third. Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning two-time gold medalist from Japan, was expected to be Chen’s fiercest competitor for the top spot on the podium.

Unfortunately, he popped his opening quadruple salchow, resulting in zero points for the element, and sits in eighth place after the first day of competition. His 95.15 score was his lowest in a short program since 2019. Hanyu looked devasted after his performance and revealed that he got caught in a hole in the ice. Still, judges expect Hanyu to attempt a quadruple axel in his free skate, something other skaters have never done successfully before, which could make him a medal contender.

Chen had the highest score in the free skate portion of the men’s competition in 2018 but couldn’t come back from the deficit after the short program and finished in fifth place. This time he’s hoping for a different result and has put himself in the best possible position for gold. Chen could’ve easily given up after his performance in 2018. However, he decided to work harder, and now he’s reaping the benefits of his hard work and dedication. Hopefully, Chen will continue to do well and bring home the coveted gold medal.