Chen Lu (figure skater) praised by such American commentators as Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic. Chen produced strong results during the 1991–1992 Olympic season. In the fall of 1991, she became the first Chinese figure skater to compete in the United States when she finished 4th at the Skate America competition held in Oakland, California. This event also included Kristi Yamaguchi and Tonya Harding, the world's top two skaters at the time. After winning the bronze medal at the 1992 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, she shocked the skating world with a 6th-place finish at the Olympics. Chen was one of only a few
Chen Lu (figure skater) meteoric rise of another young skater, Oksana Baiul. After the 1994 Olympics, Nancy Kerrigan and Oksana Baiul (the Olympic silver and gold medalists, respectively) retired from amateur competition and Chen became the favorite to win the World title in 1994. However, a stress fracture injury kept her out of the competition and jeopardized her career. She made a successful comeback by winning the 1994 NHK Trophy in Japan with an enchanting program, landing six triples, including two triple lutzes. Chen reached the pinnacle of her career in 1995 when she became the World Champion (another first for a Chinese skater)