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#RedefineAtoZ: Nathan Chen Is Skating His Way Toward His Olympic Dreams

At 17 years old, Nathan Chen has already made history in figure skating. Now, he's got his sights set on the 2018 Olympics.
Nathan Chen
In December 2016, Nathan Chen won a silver medal at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Marseilles, France, the second youngest skater ever to medal in the event's history.Paulo Chun / NBC News

NAME: Nathan Chen

AGE: 17

HOMETOWN: Salt Lake City, Utah

TWITTER: @nathanwchen / INSTAGRAM: @nathanwchen

SEE THE LIST: NBC Asian America Presents: A to Z - The 26 Emerging Voices of 2017

How do you introduce yourself?

Nathan Chen

What inspires you?

The Olympic dream, and the ability of athletes.

What challenges you?

Skating in itself is a difficult sport, and the amazing athletes within the sport are very challenging. Balancing time between skating and school is a challenge as well.

Tell us about the biggest risk you ever took.

Attempting multiple quads in a program.

What are you reading/watching/listening to these days?

Netflix ("Chef's Table," "Arrested Development") music from Kygo, Chainsmokers, and Kendrick.

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now, what job would you want to have?

I would love to be working in a hospital, or in a completely different realm, working with or exploring the lives of animals.

What’s your motto?

Never give up.

I celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month because...

...I am proud to be a first generation Chinese-American in the sport of figure skating. I celebrate my hard working parents and all the opportunities they gave me.

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