Nathan Chen heavy favorite among the men in US Figure Skating Championships

Imagine working for years, targeting one of the most elusive goals in sports.

Then recognizing that all of those practices and training and competitions lead to four minutes or so when you must be at your best. Or else the dream collapses.

That’s how American figure skaters approach this week’s national championships at SAP Center, which serve as the United States’ qualifier for the PyeongChang Olympics in February and begin Wednesday.

Nervous time? Sure.

Pressure? Immeasurable.

“I definitely think there is additional pressure,” defending men’s champion Nathan Chen said. “But it is reassuring.