For Shiffrin, what happens next is entirely up to her

Race on, Shiffrin, what's next is yours to decide

Nathan Chen, the American figure skater who bagged the long-awaited gold medal Thursday morning, knows his realm well. His redemption serves as a reminder of the inherent meaning sports hold for us all, regardless of whether it ends in a thrilling victory or a brutal defeat, in a playground or a frozen oval. The beauty lies in the never-ending possibility of a comeback, a "try again tomorrow" moment that gives the defeated an opportunity to make amends and perhaps even taste glory (or even gold).

Yes, we wait four years, often prolonged even further, for such respite from our trials.

Lindsey Jacobellis, the American snowboarder, waited 16 years for her chance to return to the podium. Her gold medal dream crumbled due to an impulsive move just a few meters from the finish line in Turin in 2006. She managed a silver medal, but her goals were shattered by a premature celebration.

In Beijing, synchronized with America's first gold medal at the Winter Olympics, she crossed the finish line without fanfare, smiling slowly, and placing her hand on her heart, knowing she had gifted the US its first gold at the Winter Games. At the ripe age of 36, she surpassed history, becoming the oldest American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.

For most of us mortals, acrobatic feats may remain a stretch, but the practice itself simply feels natural. After all, we're not so accustomed to assigning terms like "effortless" to the extraordinary challenges they undertake.

However, the defiance of Chen in PyeongChang in 2018 was a stark contrast to Team USA's recent success streak. Chloe Kim defended her Olympic title in the halfpipe with finesse, while Jacobellis basked in the fame of a career renaissance, only to stumble again only moments later. It wasn't until Chen, in the face of overwhelming adversity, began his comeback – that gold finally was within reach. Roughly translated – it's an extraordinary feat to win.

Chen's record in Peking was a far cry from his disappointment in PyeongChang four years ago. He's been breaking records and dominating the sports scene every year since, winning six consecutive national championships and three consecutive world championships, except for a single loss to fellow American Vincent Zhou who tested positive for COVID-19.

Chen’s dominance seemed unassailable, but it couldn't shield him from the fifth place finish in 2018. It underscored that even in sports, nothing is ever guaranteed. Regardless of how many prayers, good luck charms, or inspiring T-shirts, destiny doesn't always yield to our desires.

The years Chen dominated the sport sparked deep conversations about redemption and the need for more control. The term "Twist" was recently coined by Simone Biles, representing the struggle to achieve feats of gravity in a consistent and controlled manner. For Biles, it means being "the Twisted Sister" on the sideline, as opposed to flying in the air. Yet, she takes her luck into her own hands and won't back down from a challenge.

In Peking, we're still waiting to see what hurdle Mikaela Shiffrin will face, but she's had time to reflect. Just 20 minutes after the slalom, she was alone in the snow, her spirit shattered, at Gate 5, her second slip in as many days.

The Olympic experience that Chen has imprinted on her over the last four years will never be washed away. Neither his heartbreaking short program in PyeongChang, which left a mark, nor the titles he has won since can erase that moment from our collective consciousness – perhaps a part of her own identity.

Since his arrival in Peking, Chen has approached his training with caution, masking up when meeting other athletes, keeping his distance even at the training rink, and avoiding team practices for the last week. After winning his gold, he paid tribute to his shortcomings in PyeongChang twice and pushed himself to the brink to complete the Lutz quadruple jump – a hurdle he had yet to surmount.

Back in the Capital Arena, the venue where his mother grew up, he launched into a quadruple combine salchow, and his victory was assured. The recorded score still represented more than just a win, it signified victory.

As Chen crossed the finish line and kissed the ice, Elton John's lyrics, "I think it's gonna be a long, long time," echoed throughout the arena. He bore the challenge with grace and equanimity, completing his most demanding combination with ease.

When we submerge ourselves in the world of sports, we're drawn into a tremendously compelling narrative. It's about the human spirit's capacity for triumph and recovery – the lengthy odyssey of struggle, rehabilitation, and resurrection that athletes undertake.