Rafael Arutyunyan to be inducted into US Figure Skating Hall of Fame

Armenian American coach Rafael Arutyunyan will be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. The official ceremony is scheduled for January 9 during the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis.

Arutyunyan was honored as an outstanding professional. Throughout his career, he has coached—and continues to coach—elite and renowned skaters, including Nathan Chen, Ilia Malinin, Michelle Kwan, Sasha Cohen, Ashley Wagner, Adam Rippon, Mariah Bell, Mao Asada, Jeffrey Buttle, and Sofya Samodelkina.