HELSINKI — When Nathan Chen wins an Olympic medal in 10 months — if Nathan Chen wins an Olympic medal in 10 months — he undoubtedly will think back to an unexpected moment, one not of success but uncharacteristic failure, that made it all possible.
That moment occurred Thursday afternoon a minute and a half into his first appearance at the world figure skating championships, when, after successfully landing the two toughest quadruple jumps any skater attempts, he fell on a triple jump — the triple axel, the toughest triple there is — but still, a triple.
“Triples are hard,” the 17-year-old Chen said with a laugh.