Jason Brown, the 2015 U.S. champion and fourth-place finisher at the 2015 World Championships, was left off U.S. Figure Skating’s three-man team for this spring’s World Championships in Boston.
In favor of Nathan Chen, a 16-year-old who is set to become the youngest U.S. man to compete at Worlds since 1965.
On Sunday, Chen became the first man to land four quads in a free skate at the U.S. Championships in St. Paul, Minn. But Chen, who landed six quads total over two programs, finished third behind Adam Rippon (who landed zero quads) and Max Aaron (who landed three).
Brown last competed in October and pulled out of a November event and the U.S. Championships with a back strain. Brown petitioned for a place on the Worlds team, with his coach saying he will return to skating this week, according to Icenetwork.com.
The U.S. men’s team for Worlds includes Rippon (fourth Worlds appearance), Aaron (third Worlds) and Chen, the reigning Junior Grand Prix Final champion.
Chen, the 2014 World junior bronze medalist, is also eligible for Junior Worlds this year.
