Figure skating - Chen jumps to large lead after men's short program
January 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Nathan Chen performs in the mens short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
(Reuters) - Hot favourite Nathan Chen had a hiccup with his final jump but still did enough to take a big short program lead in the men's competition at the U.S. figure skating championships on Thursday.
Probably the best chance for American gold at next month's Winter Olympics, the 18-year-old dazzled the crowd with his athleticism during a nearly three-minute routine in San Jose, California.
His technical score of 57.91 was more than eight points better than anyone else, and accounted entirely for his lead over Adam Rippon, who received a marginally better grade for artistry.
January 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Adam Rippon performs in the mens short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Chen received 104.45 points overall ahead of Rippon's 96.52, with Jason Brown third on 93.23.
Chen's short performance, ahead of Saturday's free skate, came despite battling a cold in recent weeks and, by his own admission, struggling a little in practice.
"The circumstances going into this competition weren't great but I've struggled before with illness, with injury and I know I can push through anything and that's what I reminded myself of here," he said.
Jan 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Nathan Chen performs in the mens short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
The only man to land five quad jumps in competition -- a quad refers to four spinning revolutions in the air -- Chen won the Grand Prix final in Japan on Dec. 8 and his class was on full display again on Thursday.
He made a confidence-boosting start by landing a quad flip-triple toe combination, and followed it up with an equally impressive quad toe.
Only on his final jump, a triple Axel, did he falter, stumbling upon landing but managing to regain his balance without touching his hand on the ice.
January 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Figure skating coach Rafael Arutyunyan (left) and Nathan Chen (right) watch from kiss and cry in the mens short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The U.S. championships offer a final chance for the men to impress selectors before three are named for the Pyeongchang Games.
In the pairs short program on Friday, the husband-and-wife duo of Chris and Alexa Knierim took the lead as they look to lock down the only U.S. berth on offer for South Korea.
"So far it wouldn't have gone any better," said Alexa.
Jan 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Christopher Knierim performs in the pairs short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
The championships continue with the women's free skate on Friday night.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
January 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Adam Rippon performs in the mens short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJanuary 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Christopher Knierim wave to the camera in the kiss and cry in the pairs short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJanuary 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Christopher Knierim performs in the pairs short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJan 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Christopher Knierim performs in the pairs short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY SportsJanuary 4, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Adam Rippon performs in the mens short program during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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