Nathan Chen is known for his ice skating skills, but on Friday fans will get a glimpse of his puck-handling skills.
The Olympic gold medalist figure skater hit the ice with contractor/television personality Rob Mariano to play some hockey during a new episode of “Secret Celebrity Renovation” which is set to air on CBS at 8 pm ET on Friday. It will also be available to stream on Paramount+.
Chen won a gold medal for the United States in the men’s singles competition and a silver medal in the team figure skating event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Mariano, also known as Boston Rob, is a former “Survivor” contestant and is the show contractor for “Secret Celebrity Renovation.” The series gives celebrities the opportunity to gift renovations to meaningful people from their hometowns that were important to their success.
The episode features Chen and Mariano renovating the Salt Lake City Sports Complex, where the Olympian first learned how to skate. The renovations included a new figure skating lounge area and changing room.
“It’s just really cool [renovating the sports complex],” Chen said. “I know this is a relatively small project, relative to the Salt Lake community at large, but anything I can possibly do to sort of give back a little bit to a place that has given me so much is something I was really excited to do. I am really honored and glad I had this opportunity to do something to the rink I grew up in.”
When it came time to hit the ice, the two stars were equally impressed with the other’s hockey skills. Mariano was surprised to learn that Chen grew up playing hockey after watching his brothers play the sport.
“Nathan really surprised me,” Mariano said. “I didn’t know that [Nathan played hockey], so when I got on the ice, they gave him a stick and even though he had figure skates on he was right with me, keeping up, we are tossing the puck, we’re playing. I knew he could do the acrobatics on the ice, but I didn’t realize he was so good with a stick in his hand too.”
Mariano, who grew up in Boston, also played hockey throughout his life. Although he now lives in Florida, he plays four nights a week from October to March in a men’s league.
Chen is excited for viewers to see where he grew up and his community’s support.
Video: Nathan and Rob hit the ice for some skating
“More than highlighting me, at this point in time it’s about seeing all of the people, highlighting all of the people that have helped me,” Chen said. “I am hoping that the episode is able to show that and kind of just really emphasize all the people that have helped me along my way.”
Mariano hopes the biggest takeaway viewers have from the episode is the emotional connection Chen has to his hometown.
“He wanted to give back and do something special for his community,” Mariano said. “I think it really meant a lot to him to do this and he did it in his mother Hetty’s honor too, so it shows the connection he had with his family, with this community and that’s really the wonderful part about each of these renovations that we do.”
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