Figure Skating Legends Nathan Chen, Rafael Arutyunyan to be Honored in US Figure Skating Hall of Fame

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US Figure Skating legends Nathan Chen and Rafael Arutyunyan are set to be inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame on its 50th anniversary at the national championships in St. Louis next month. The ceremony will also honor Joseph Inman, who played a key role in developing the current scoring system after the 2002 Olympics judging scandal. Nathan Chen, a 26-year-old Olympic champion, revolutionized men's figure skating by becoming the first athlete to land five different types of quadruple jumps in competition. He set multiple Olympic and world records during his 12-year competitive career, including an overall score of 335.30 at the 2019 Grand Prix Final. Chen won three world titles and six consecutive US titles, but his Olympic triumphs are perhaps his most memorable achievements. He helped the US win team bronze at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and later won the men's competition to help deliver team gold at the 2022 Beijing Games. Chen has stepped away from competition, but continues to skate in occasional shows. He has also pursued a career in medicine, graduating from Yale last year and joining the athlete advisory committee helping Salt Lake City prepare to host the 2034 Winter Games. Rafael Arutyunyan, Chen's longtime coach, has had a 50-year coaching career spanning multiple Olympic and world champions, including Michelle Kwan, Ashley Wagner, and Adam Rippon. Arutyunyan competed for the former Soviet Union and coached the Russian national team before moving to the US and settling in California, where he became a citizen six years ago. He currently serves as the head coach of the high performance team at Great Park Ice and Five Point Arena in Irvine, California. Joseph Inman, a classically trained pianist, played a crucial role in developing the current figure skating scoring system after the 2002 Olympics judging scandal. He served on the committee charged with overhauling the system and helped create a more objective and program-component-focused system. Inman also served 21 years with the United States Army band as its lead percussionist and substitute pianist. The US Figure Skating Hall of Fame's 50th anniversary celebration is a testament to the legacy of these figure skating legends. "The Class of 2026 holds the prestigious distinction of being the golden class of inductees," 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."