Goodbye yellow brick road, hello gold medal.
US figure skater Nathan Chen delivered an incredible performance Wednesday in Beijing, skating to a compilation of Elton John hits, including “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Rocket Man,” and a version of “Benny and the Jets” reimagined by Logic and P!nk.
Chen was the favorite to win, and even with all that pressure, he didn’t disappoint. It was a redemptive moment for the star skater after finishing in fifth place at the 2018 Olympics.
Check out his amazing routine below (you may need to click through to YouTube to view the video):
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After the performance, a commentator exclaimed, “Give him his crown!”
“Nathan Chen winning the Olympic Games is a dream,” tweeted fellow skater Adam Rippon. “I don’t even have words for how much joy seeing Nathan succeed gives me. OKAY FINE YES I CRIED WHATEVER SHUT UP IM A HUGE BABY I DON’T CARE YAY.”
Nathan Chen winning the Olympic Games is a dream. I don't even have words for how much joy seeing Nathan succeed gives me. OKAY FINE YES I CRIED WHATEVER SHUT UP IM A HUGE BABY I DON'T CARE YAY
— Adam Rippon (@AdamRippon) February 10, 2022
Elton John also tipped his hat to Chen, posting: “Congratulations @nathanwchen for winning Gold skating to Rocket Man in the free skate finals in Beijing”
Congratulations @nathanwchen for winning Gold skating to Rocket Man in the free skate finals in Beijing ? pic.twitter.com/c9C2Kc3zti
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) February 10, 2022
Chen also won a silver medal as part of the United States’ figure skating team earlier in the Games.
And just because, here’s that “Benny and the Jets” remix:
Kangol2
Fabulous routine and congrats, Nathan Chen and USA figure skating Olympic team!
GCL
He is so talented. Congrats Nathan Chen & Team USA.
The real Bruce
Highest score recorded for his short program which was superb and winning the the Gold for the free skate. Wonderful routine to Elton John’s music. Made us all proud and the US Olympic skating team! Yea Nathan!
SDR94103
the KING has spoken.
barryaksarben
For years we watched the men try and try to get the first quad in competition and Nathan does 4 or 5 a program making each one look easy. ATrumly amazing skater. CONGRATS
galileo
Ironical with the global Olympics… “Video unavailable The uploader has not made this video available in your country” – sure it was a great routine…
Den
I’m in the US, and though I could not watch the program on Queerty’s link, there was no problem viewing both Chen’s short and long program by going directly to YouTube.