Funny how things work out sometimes.

Massimo Scali had hoped to go to the 2022 Winter Olympics as Alysa Liu’s coach.

That did not happen, so Scali is watching the Olympics from his home in Oakland, California.

But he still was present at the Games through Nathan Chen.

Chen had sought input from Scali soon after learning the three-time Italian Olympic ice dancer suddenly and surprisingly was free of coaching commitments to Liu.

"He has been incredibly helpful, so I just feel a need to mention that," Chen said at a press conference the day after winning the gold medal.

"I am so happy for being able to collaborate with Nathan recently," Scali said Friday by telephone. "To have seen him skate the way he did in this Olympics was quite a show. I’m so proud."