Four years in the making, the 2022 Winter Olympics are underway in Beijing, China. As always, both domestic and international drama surround this year’s games. With the host country of China in question regarding human rights violations, specifically the genocide of Uyghur Muslims, many countries have found ways to protest the games. The United States, along with Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, have elected a political boycott the Olympics as they refuse to send diplomatic representatives in solidarity with the Uyghurs. To ensure the athletes would not take the blame for the protest, all athletes from these countries are still competing in their respective events.

Another controversial issue surrounding this year’s Olympics is China’s refusal to allow foreign spectators. Although China insists its policy is designed to protect the athletes from a potential Covid outbreak, the families of athletes all over the world cannot watch their loved ones compete at the highest level in person. With the Coronavirus gradually becoming less severe, many experts predict this to be the last Olympics troubled by the Coronavirus Pandemic. 

That said, there are always positive things about the Olympics. The United States fell behind within the first few days of competition and did not win a gold medal until Wednesday, February 9, six days into the competition. Nathan Chen, US Olympic Figure Skater, broke America’s gold medal drought in flawless fashion. After crumbling under pressure in the 2018 games by finishing in fifth place, Chen skated to win with a fire in his spirit as he opened his short program routine with a powerful quad lutz jump, instantly separating himself from the rest of the competition. With a total score of 113.97, Nathan Chen shocked the world with his unprecedented short program score. The previous record of 111.82 will forever be in the shadow of Nathan Chen’s historic performance.

Of other importance, 15-year-old Russian Figure Skater Kamila Valieva tests positive for a banned drug. This comes after the 15-year-old became the first female to land a quadruple axel, which placed the Russian Olympic Committee’s Figure Skating Team with Gold. Newspapers report the drug as Trimetazide, a substance used to treat chest pain. The ROC’s Chief of Mission declined to comment on reports in regards to Valieva’s positive test. Skating is a prestigious sport in Russia especially, one in which it has an outstanding record at both Olympic and World Championship events. Many argue Trimetazide does not give the athlete an advantage. This evidence was only found in one sample from December, a minuscule amount at most. Biologically, the drug increases blood flow while limiting rapid swings in blood pressure. I am no expert on the biological effects Trimetazide may have had on the Russian figure skater; however, the drug is in fact located on the Olympics’s banned drug list. Therefore, Valieva did break the Olympic Committee’s policy no matter when she took it or how much she ingested. Details about further testing or penalties have yet to be announced and we will have to wait to see what the Olympic Committee’s resolution will be.

Just six days into the 2022 Olympic Games, we have seen records broken, barriers crashed, and reputations questioned. From American medal counts to Russian doping drama, to the world’s favorite Caribbean Bobsled Team, you can count on the Olympics to give you quite the rollercoaster ride of emotions. Will the United States regain its status with a stronger gold metal turnout? Will the ROC be stripped of their figure skating Gold? Tune in to the Olympics between now and February 20th to find out and see.