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US figure skater Nathan Chen sets new short program world record at 2022 Beijing Olympics

He leads the men’s short program at the Games

BEIJING, February 8. /TASS/. American figure skater Nathan Chen set a new world record in the short program at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing on Tuesday.

Judges awarded Chen 113.97 points for his short program performance. The previous world record was set during the 2020 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships by Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu (111.82 points).

Chen finished in the top of the men’s figure skating short program on Tuesday. Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama came in second (108.12), while his compatriot Shoma Uno took third place (105.90). Russian figure skater Evgeny Semenenko finished seventh (95.76).

Speaking with the US-based NBC TV network after his performance, Chen said: "I was elated."

"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," he added.

Nathan Chen, 22, is an Olympic silver and bronze medalist as well as a three-time world champion. The athlete also has three victories in the finals of the Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The US figure skater became the all-time world record holder in men’s figure skating, he also has records in the free skate (224.92) and total points (335.30).

The men’s free skate program at the 2022 Beijing Olympics is scheduled for February 10.

The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in the Chinese capital of Beijing are running from February 4-20. During the 128th IOC session in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, 2015, Beijing was chosen to host the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games making the Chinese capital the first city ever to host both the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games (in 2008) as well as the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games (in 2022).