His first quadruple jump transformed into a simple rotation from the very first moments of his performance cost "Yuzu" dearly, very dearly: with only 95.15 points, he only points to eighth place before the free program scheduled for Thursday (from from 02:30 French time).

Nearly twenty points ahead, Chen prances ahead: after an impeccable performance to the sound of "La Bohème" by Charles Aznavour, the 22-year-old American, in search of a first Olympic title, was rewarded with 113.97 points, new world record.

American Nathan Chen, during his short program at the Beijing Games, February 8, 2022 SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP

Behind Chen, more than five points at best, two Japanese made up for the failure of Hanyu: the young Yuma Kagiyama, 18 years old and vice-world champion in title, second with 108.12 points, and Shoma Uno, vice-champion outgoing Olympian and third with 105.90 points.

"I would say it was very close to my best level," said the three-time reigning world champion (2018, 2019 and 2021).

"Hole" in the ice

About Hanyu's faux pas, "When I heard that, I was like, 'Stick to your plan, it doesn't change anything, focus on what you can do, try to do your best, the rest is out of your control," Chen said.

How does the Japanese champion explain it?

"I didn't have a bad feeling until I released my jump. And when I released it, I felt a hole (in the ice), maybe created by the support of another skater, he considered.

Japanese Yuzuru Hanyu, after his short program at the Beijing Games, February 8, 2022 WANG Zhao AFP

If the gap between him and Chen seems impossible to bridge, and even the podium now seems difficult for Hanyu, "I will do my technical content in the free" were the only words he said in English.

Understand a priori that "Yuzu" will attack the quadruple Axel as planned, the most complex quadruple rotation of figure skating, never yet successful in competition.

Despite his recalcitrant right ankle, already affected before the 2018 Olympics and which only allowed him to participate in one competition this winter (the Japanese Championships at the end of December) before the Beijing Games.

"Icon"

Despite everything, Chen prefers to remain cautious.

"You certainly can't wipe him off the map. He's a two-time Olympic champion for a reason. And whatever he does in the future, he will always be a true figure skating icon, one of the greatest skaters of all. times, if not the greatest", greets his American rival.

The joy of American Nathan Chen, after his short program at the Beijing Games, February 8, 2022 SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP

On the French side, Kevin Aymoz ranked tenth with 93 points, despite a quadruple Salchow transformed into a triple, and Adam Siao Him Fa, 14th with 86.74 points, despite a fall on his second "quad".

"It was excellent, I don't have the words to describe how much I loved it!, rejoiced Aymoz. The triple Salchow, it must have been a + quad +, but in the air, when I saw that It wasn't going up, I said to myself: + Don't do the four laps to fall. You're not aiming for a Kevin medal, don't try to be mad! +. The goal today was to clean up."

Frenchman Kevin Aymoz, during his short program at the Beijing Games, February 8, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

"Overall it was good, I had a blast skating this program, for me it was the main thing," said Siao Him Fa, who went through the fright and isolation - around 36 hours - of a positive test. to Covid-19 upon his arrival in the Chinese capital.

You have to go back almost a century to find the trace of the only skater to have been crowned Olympic champion three times in a row.

It is the Swede Gillis Grasfström between 1920 and 1928.

© 2022 AFP