Karen Chen ’23, a senior at Cornell’s College of Human Ecology, was finally awarded her Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games after a prolonged wait. Originally winning silver in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics team competition, Chen and her teammates were elevated to gold following a doping scandal involving the Russian team.
In a unique ceremony at the Eiffel Tower, Chen and her fellow skaters were honored with their long-awaited medals. “Receiving our medals in Paris was incredibly special, even though we had to wait 2 ½ years,” Chen remarked, noting that the moment was made even more memorable with her family present.
Now focused on her studies in human biology, health, and society, Chen is planning a career in physical therapy but continues her passion for skating as co-president of Cornell’s Figure Skating Club.
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