Nathan Chen of the United States and Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan were the favorites at the 2018 Games. But Chen appeared overwhelmed by the moment during the short program in the individual competition, finishing a distant 17th place. He recovered in the long program but could hoist himself to only fifth place overall, while Hanyu won his second individual gold medal.
Chen went on to become a three-time world champion and the first to complete five types of quadruple jumps while on a long unbeaten streak. But nerves seemed to strike again in the fall, when he stumbled through the short program at Skate America, an international Grand Prix event, and finished third overall.