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Updated Feb 4, 2022 - Sports

In photos: Team USA's Nathan Chen leads Beijing Olympics day 0 highlights

Rebecca Falconer
Nathan Chen of Team United States skates in the Men's Single Skating Short Program Team Event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium on Feb. 4, 2022 in Beijing, China.

Team USA's Nathan Chen skates in the Men's Single Skating Short Program Team Event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium on Feb. 4, 2022 in Beijing, China. His score was the second-highest in the event ever. Photo" Elsa/Getty Images

Figure skater Nathan Chen scored a career-best 111.71 in the men's short program to put the U.S. in top spot at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China, on Friday.

The big picture: Chen's actions leaving Team USA well placed for a medal were among many highlights from the Beijing Games day 0 action ahead of the opening ceremonies later Friday, which mark the official launch of the event.

- Italy's Matteo Marsaglia takes part in the mens downhill second training session during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre in Yanqing on February 4
Italy's Matteo Marsaglia takes part in the men's Winter Olympics downhill second training session at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre in Yanqing, China on Feb. 4. Photo: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier of Team USA skate in the Olympics Pair Skating Short Program Team Event in China
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier of Team USA in the Pair Skating Short Program Team Event during the Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium on Feb. 4 in Beijing. Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
: Malene Frandsen #89 of Team Denmark celebrates a goal in the first period during their Women's Preliminary Round Group B match against Team China on February 04, 2022 in Beijing.
Malene Frandsen, #89 of Denmark, celebrates a goal in the first period of their Women's Preliminary Round Group B match against China at Wukesong Sports Centre on Feb. 4 in Beijing, China. Photo: Song Yanhua - Pool/Getty Images
USA's Chris Mazdzer takes part in the men's singles luge training session at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre in Yanqing on February 4
American Chris Mazdzer takes part in the men's singles luge training session at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre in Yanqing, China, on Feb. 4. Photo: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images
Canada's Rachel Homan (L) curls the stone during the mixed doubles round robin session 5 game of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games curling game against Switzerland February 4
Canada's Rachel Homan (L) curls the stone during the mixed doubles round robin session 5 game of the Winter Olympic curling competition against Switzerland,at the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing on Feb. 4. Photo: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty Images
Jamie Anderson of Team USA performs a trick during the Snowboard Slopestyle Training session ahead of the Winter Olympic Games at the Genting Snow Park on February 04, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China.
Jamie Anderson of Team USA performs a trick during the Olympic Snowboard Slopestyle Training session ahead of the at the Genting Snow Park on Feb. 4 in Zhangjiakou, China. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

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Editor's note: This article has been updated with more photos and further details of Chen's achievement.

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