Nathan Chen hoping Yuzuru Hanyu showdown at Winter 2022 Olympics isn't derailed by Vincent Zhou's positive test

Nathan Chen has been left hoping that his showdown with figure skating rival Yuzuru Hanyu at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will not be derailed by a positive Covid-19 test. Chen’s American team-mate Vincent Zhou announced on Monday that he has tested positive, a day after competing in the team event. Ad/> The battle for gold between Chen – who has won the last three World Championships — and Hanyu – who has won gold at the last two Olympics — is one of the most hotly-anticipated clashes of the Games.

Beijing 2022Defending figure skating champion Hanyu finally arrives in BeijingYESTERDAY AT 12:26 Asked about Zhou’s positive result, Chen said: “I don't have much information other than the fact he tested for it. «Everything out there is speculation. Where did you get it? Where have you been going around? I've not really been around (Zhou) and any time that I've been around, I've been wearing a mask.» Chen, 22, has won all three meetings with Hanyu since the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games, where he finished fifth.

Zhou out of figure skating after positive test Team GB miss out on mixed doubles curling final He didn’t take part in Sunday's free skate in the team event to give him prepare and rest for the individual event. One of the focuses ahead of the meeting has been Hanyu’s plans to unleash a quadruple axel, a jump which involves four-and-a-half revolutions in the air and has never been landed in competition. “Yuzuru has definitely pushed me a lot,” said Chen.