FILE - Nathan Chen, right, waves next to coach Rafael Arutyunyan after seeing his scores during the men's short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, Calif., Jan. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
FILE - Nathan Chen, of the United States, competes during the men's short program figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb. 8, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)1 / 2US Hall of Fame Figure Skating
FILE - Nathan Chen, right, waves next to coach Rafael Arutyunyan after seeing his scores during the men's short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, Calif., Jan. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)1 / 2US Hall of Fame Figure Skating
FILE - Nathan Chen, right, waves next to coach Rafael Arutyunyan after seeing his scores during the men's short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, Calif., Jan. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)2 / 2US Hall of Fame Figure Skating
FILE - Nathan Chen, of the United States, competes during the men's short program figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb. 8, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)DAVE SKRETTATue, December 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM UTC·3 min readOlympic champion Nathan Chen and his longtime figure skating coach, Rafael Arutyunyan, will be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame when it celebrates its 50th anniversary at the national championships next month in St. Louis.
Joseph Inman, who helped to develop the current scoring system after the 2002 Olympics judging scandal, also will be inducted.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 26-year-old Chen helped to usher in the era of quadruple jumps in men's skating, becoming the first athlete to land five different types of quads in competition. He set several Olympic and world records during a competitive career spanning 12 years, and his overall score of 335.30 set during the 2019 Grand Prix Final still stands to this day.
While he won three world titles and six consecutive U.S. titles, Chen will forever be known for the Olympics. He helped the U.S. win team bronze at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games but struggled in the men's competition, then used that bitter disappointment as fuel to win the men's competition and help to deliver team gold four years later at the 2022 Beijing Games.
Chen stepped away from competition shortly after the Olympics, though he still skates in occasional shows. He graduated from Yale last year and is pursuing a career in medicine, and the Salt Lake City native is part of the athlete advisory committee helping the city prepare to host the 2034 Winter Games.
Chen may have been Arutyunyan's most notable protege over a coaching career spanning 50 years — at least, until reigning world champion and Olympic favorite Ilia Malinin, who has come along and threatened to wipe out many of his compatriots' records.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementArutyunyan competed for the former Soviet Union and coached the Russian national team in the late 1990s before moving to the U.S. and settling in California; he became a citizen six years ago. Arutyunyan has coached many U.S. champions, including Michelle Kwan, Ashley Wagner, Sasha Cohen, Adam Rippon and Mariah Bell, and international star such as Mao Asada and Jeffrey Buttle.
Arutyunyan is the head coach of the high performance team at Great Park Ice and Five Point Arena in Irvine, California.
Inman, a classically trained pianist, was appointed to the committee charged with overhauling figure skating's scoring system after a controversy erupting over the pairs competition at the 2002 Olympics. The longtime judge, referee and technical controller helped to create a system that championed objectivity while bringing program components to the forefront.
Inman also served 21 years with the United States Army band as its lead percussionist and substitute pianist.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“The Class of 2026 holds the prestigious distinction of being the golden class of inductees as we celebrate the Hall of Fame’s 50th anniversary,” said Richard Dalley, the Hall of Fame's nominating committee chair. “In every category, this group features legendary recipients whose impact and legacy elevate the significance of this milestone celebration.”
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AP Winter Olympics at https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
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