Rafael Arutyunyan

Arutyunyan was born on July 5, 1957, in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, and studied in Yerevan, Armenian SSR at the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture. Arutyunyan's mother brought him to an ice rink after watching figure skating on television; he was skating regularly in Tbilisi by the age of seven. He is married to a skating coach, Vera, and moved to the United States in 2000. They have a son – a pianist born in the mid-1980s, and a daughter, who is an artist. On July 23, 2019, Arutyunyan and his wife became U.S. citizens.{{Cite web|last=KABC|date=2019-07-23|title=World famous figure skating coach Rafael Arutyunyan to become U.S. citizen at L.A. Convention Center|url=https://abc7.com/rafael-arutyunyan-ice-skating-professional-us-citizenship/5411877/|access-date=2022-02-09|website=ABC7 Los Angeles|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=McCarvel|first=Nick|date=2019-08-05|title=With Congrats from a Global Team of Skaters, Rafael Arutunian Becomes U.S. Citizen|url=https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/news/2019/8/5/figure-skating-with-congrats-from-a-global-team-of-skaters-rafael-arutunian-becomes-us-citizen.aspx?path=figureskate|access-date=2022-02-09|website=U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone|language=en}}

He coached young skaters in Yerevan from 1976. In the 1980–1981 season, one of his students, Saak Mkhitarian, became the Soviet junior champion and placed 6th at the World Junior Championships. Soviet officials then invited Arutyunyan to Moscow, where he worked on his teaching certification and became an assistant to Tatiana Tarasova.

Around 2000 or 2001, Arutyunyan joined the Ice Castle International Training Center, in Lake Arrowhead, California. In August 2013, he relocated to the East West Ice Palace in Artesia, California. He collaborates with his wife, Vera Arutyunyan, and Nadezda Kanaeva. He moved to Lakewood ICE in Lakewood, California on June 25, 2016. In 2019, he took on the role of Head Coach for Higher Performance Team at Great Park Ice & Fivepoint Arena in Irvine, California.{{Cite web|title=Rafael Arutyunyan, Coach to the Reigning Figure Skating World Champion and Olympic Medalist Nathan Chen, Becomes Head Coach for High Performance Team at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena - News - Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena|url=https://www.greatparkice.com/general-info/news/rafael-arutyunyan-coach-to-the-reigning-figure-skating-world-champion-and-olympic-medalist-nathan-chen-becomes-head-coach-for-high-performance-team-at-great-park-ice-fivepoint-arena/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=www.greatparkice.com}}

His current students include:

• Chen Yudong {{flagicon|CHN}} (2023 – present),{{cite web|url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102548.htm|title=Yudong CHEN: 2024/2025|publisher=International Skating Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004103152/isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102548.htm|archive-date=4 October 2024|url-status=dead}} three-time Chinese national champion (2023–2025)
• Petr Gumennik {{flagicon|RUS}} (2021 – present),{{Cite web |title=Petr Gumennik: “We worked on my quad technique with Rafael Arutyunyan. Of course, he could not attend the training personally, but he advised and helped.” |url=https://fs-gossips.com/petr-gumennik-we-worked-my-quad-technique-with-rafael-arutyunyan-of-course-he-could-not-attend-the-training-personally-but-he-advised-and-helped/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=FS Gossips - blog about figure skating |language=en}} 2023 Russian silver medalist
• Ilia Malinin {{flagicon|USA}} (2021 – present), two-time World Champion (2024–25), 2023 World bronze medalist, three-time U.S. national champion (2023–25), two-time Grand Prix Final champion (2023–24), 2022 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, 2022 Junior World Champion
• Camden Pulkinen {{flagicon|USA}} (May 2022 – present),{{cite web|url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00035344.htm |title=Camden Pulkinen: 2023/2024 |website=International Skating Union |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20230910072305/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00035344.htm |archivedate= September 10, 2023 |url-status= dead }} 2024-2025 U.S. National Bronze medalist
• Aleksandr Selevko {{flagicon|EST}} (2024 – present),{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054504.htm |title=Aleksandr SELEVKO: 2024/2025 (2nd FS) |publisher=International Skating Union |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116232311/https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054504.htm|archive-date=16 November 2024 |url-status=dead}}
• Mihhail Selevko {{flagicon|EST}} (2024 – present),{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00101190.htm |title=Mihhail SELEVKO: 2024/2025 |publisher=International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20241107040600/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00101190.htm |archive-date= 7 November 2024 |url-status= dead }}
• Eric Sjoberg {{flagicon|USA}} (2013 – present),{{cite web |title=2014 U.S. National Championships |url=https://iceskatingintnl.com/Competitions/2014Nationals/2014%20US%20Nationals%20NMFS.htm |website=Ice Skating International: Online |publisher=Ice Skating International: Online |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Matthew Nielsen {{flagicon|USA}} (2019 – present),{{cite web |title=Matthew Nielsen |url=https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/matthew-nielsen/685 |website=U.S. Figure Skating |publisher=U.S. Figure Skating |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Andrew Torgashev {{flagicon|USA}} (2020 – present),{{cite web |title=Andrew Torgashev: 2023/2024 |url=http://isuresults.com/bios/isufs00014939.htm |website=International Skating Union |access-date=19 August 2023 |archive-date=17 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817082914/http://isuresults.com/bios/isufs00014939.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }} 2023 U.S. national bronze medalist, 2025 U.S. national silver medalist
• Sofia Samodelkina {{Flagicon|Kazakhstan}} (2024 – present),{{cite web |title=Бросившая Россию фигуристка заглянула в Москву ради роликов с Трусовой и Щербаковой. А теперь позирует в США |url=https://sport24.ru/figureskating/article-694109-figuristka-sofya-samodelkina-treniruyetsya-na-katke-v-ssha-kalifornii-u-rafaelya-arutyunyana-video-podrobnosti |website=Sports 24 |access-date=24 October 2024}} 2025 Kazakh national champion, 2025 World University Games bronze medalist

His former students include:

File:Rafael Arutunian Mao Asada and Tatiana Tarasova.jpg (center) and Mao Asada (right) at the 2007–08 Grand Prix Final]]

• Alexander Abt {{Flagicon|Russia}} (early 1990s – 2002) 2003 Russian National Champion, 2002 European silver medalist, 1998 European bronze medalist
• Mao Asada (summer 2006 – January 2008), 2010 Olympic silver medalist, 2008 World Champion, 2010 World Champion, 2014 World Champion, 4 x Grand Prix Final Champion (2006, 2009, 2013, 2014), 3x Four Continents Champion (2008, 2010, 2013), 6 x Japanese National Champion
• Mariah Bell {{flagicon|USA}} (August 2016 – October 2022), 2022 U.S. national champion.
• Michal Březina {{flagicon|CZE}} (June 2016 – March 2022)
• Jeffrey Buttle {{flagicon|CAN}} (2004 – 2008),{{Cite web |last=Mittan |first=Barry |date=2008-05-31 |title=Buttle Bounces Back |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2008/05/buttle-bounces-back/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=Golden Skate |language=en-US}} 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, 2008 World Champion, 2004-2007 Canadian National Champion
• Nathan Chen {{flagicon|USA}} (2011 – 2022),{{cite web |date=2022-05-12|url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054124.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803031234/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054124.htm |title= Nathan Chen: 2021/2022 |website=International Skating Union|access-date=2021-11-02|archive-date=2023-08-03|url-status=live}} 2022 men’s singles Olympic Champion, 2018, 2019 and 2021 World champion, 2022 Olympic team gold medalist, 2018 Olympic team bronze medalist, 2017–2022 U.S. National Champion, 2017–2019 Grand Prix Final champion and 2017 4CC champion
• Mandy Chiang {{flagicon|TPE}} (2018 – 2020){{cite web |title=Mandy CHIANG: 2019/2020 |url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00106187.htm |website=International Skating Union |publisher=International Skating Union |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Sasha Cohen {{Flagicon|US}} (2009),{{cite web |title=Sasha Cohen excited for her comeback |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figure-skating/sasha-cohen-excited-for-her-comeback-1.782256 |website=CBC Sports |publisher=CBC Sports |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Ivan Dinev {{flagicon|BUL}} (2002 – 2003),{{cite web |url= http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00000109.htm |title= Ivan DINEV: 2002/2003 |publisher= International Skating Union |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20030803102328/http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00000109.htm |archivedate= August 3, 2003 |url-status= unfit }}
• Stephen Gogolev {{flagicon|CAN}} (June 2019 – 2024), 2019 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion
• Marin Honda {{flagicon|JPN}} (March 2018 – 2019), 2016 Junior World Champion, 2017 Junior World silver medalist
• Taichi Honda {{flagicon|JPN}}, (March 2018 – 2021)
• Alexa Knierim / Brandon Frazier {{flagicon|USA}} (2020 – 2022),{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00110201.htm |title=Alexa Scimeca Knierim / Brandon Frazier: 2020/2021 |website=International Skating Union |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022070117/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00110201.htm |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |url-status=unfit}} 2022 World Champions, 2022 Grand Prix Final silver medalists
• Alexa Knierim / Chris Knierim (2019 – 2020),{{cite web |last1=Capellazzi |first1=Gina |title=Three-time U.S. champions Alexa Knierim and Chris Knierim: ‘We’re fighting for our dreams’ |url=https://figureskatersonline.com/news/2020/02/05/three-time-u-s-champions-alexa-knierim-and-chris-knierim-were-fighting-for-our-dreams/ |website=Figure Skaters Online |publisher=Figure Skaters Online |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Kiira Korpi {{flagicon|FIN}} (August 2013 – 2014),
• Michelle Kwan {{Flagicon|US}} (2003 – 2006), 5 x World Champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003), 1998 Olympic silver medalist, 2002 Olympic bronze medalist, 9 x U.S. National Champion (1996, 1998-2005)
• Hiu Ching Kwong {{flagicon|HKG}} (2019 – 2020),{{cite web |title=Hiu Ching KWONG: 2019/2020 |url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102373.htm |website=International Skating Union |publisher=International Skating Union |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Alexandra Ievleva {{Flagicon|Russia}} (1996 – 2000) (2008 – 2010),{{cite web |title=Alexandra IEVLEVA: 2007/2008 |url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00008983.htm |website=International Skating Union |publisher=International Skating Union |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Vivian Le (June 2016 – December 2017),{{cite web |last1=Stacey |first1=Olivia |title=Rafael Arutyunyan, Nathan Chen’s Coach: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |url=https://heavy.com/sports/2018/02/nathan-chen-coach-rafael-arutyunyan-training-facility-home-rink/ |website=Heavy |publisher=Heavy |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Lim Eun-soo {{flagicon|KOR}} (April 2018 – September 2019),{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054723.htm |title= Eunsoo LIM: 2018/2019 |publisher= International Skating Union |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20190331030052/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054723.htm |archivedate= March 31, 2019|url-status= unfit }}
• Amy Lin {{flagicon|TPE}} (2017 – 2018),{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00034594.htm |title= Amy LIN: 2017/2018 |publisher= International Skating Union |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20171017184332/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00034594.htm |archivedate= October 17, 2017 |url-status= unfit }}
• Hannah Miller {{flagicon|USA}} (June 2015 – August 2016),
• Hovhannes Mkrtchyan {{flagicon|ARM}} (unknown – 2011),{{cite web |title=Hovhannes MKRTCHYAN: 2010/2011 |url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00007872.htm |website=International Skating Union |publisher=International Skating Union |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Andrea Montesinos Cantú {{flagicon|MEX}} (2017 – 2023),{{Cite web|url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00101361.htm|title=Biography|website=www.isuresults.com|access-date=2018-09-16}}
• Romain Ponsart {{flagicon|FRA}} (August 2016 – March 2022),
• Adam Rippon {{flagicon|USA}} (September 2012 – March 2018), 2016 U.S. national champion. 2018 Winter Olympics U.S. Team bronze medalist
• Audrey Shin {{flagicon|USA}} (2016 – 2018),{{cite web |last1=Hersh |first1=Philip |title=Reality check: Audrey Shin is what’s happening in U.S. women’s skating |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/audrey-shin-skate-america-us-ladies-figure-skating |website=NBC Sports |publisher=NBC Sports |access-date=12 June 2025}}
• Alexander Shubin {{flagicon|RUS}} (unknown – 2001),{{cite web |url= http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00003577.htm |title= Alexander SHUBIN: 2000/2001 |publisher= International Skating Union |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20010426181245/http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00003577.htm |archivedate= 26 April 2001 |url-status=dead }}
• Sergei Voronov {{flagicon|RUS}} (unknown – 2000),
• Ashley Wagner {{flagicon|USA}} (June 2013 – March 2018), 2016 World silver medalist, 2014 Winter Olympics U.S. Team bronze medalist, and three-time U.S. national champion

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web |url= http://www.solovieff.ru/main.mhtml?Part=46&PubID=128 | script-title=ru:Арутюнян Рафаэл Владимирович |language= Russian |trans-title=Rafael Vladimirovich Arutyunyan |publisher= solovieff.ru |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20140426234159/http://www.solovieff.ru/main.mhtml?Part=46&PubID=128 |archivedate= April 26, 2014 |url-status= live }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.usfigureskating.org/Content/web%20report_alpha_2013.pdf |title= 2013 - 2014 Coach/Instructor Compliance |publisher= U.S. Figure Skating |date= April 25, 2014 |page= 9 |access-date= April 26, 2014 |archive-date= August 25, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140825195517/https://www.usfigureskating.org/Content/web%20report_alpha_2013.pdf |url-status= dead }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=48423&type=media |title= Rippon Announces Coaching Change |work= U.S. Figure Skating |date= September 11, 2012 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2013/08/23/58045574 |title= Korpi to train with Arutunian in Lake Arrowhead |work= IceNetwork.com |date= August 23, 2013 }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.icecastle.us/coaching.html |title= Coaching Staff |publisher= Ice Castle International Training Center |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20130518225329/http://www.icecastle.us/coaching.html |archivedate= May 18, 2013 |url-status= unfit }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00007031.htm |title= Sergei VORONOV: 2009/2010 |publisher= International Skating Union |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091102055216/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00007031.htm |archivedate= November 2, 2009 |url-status= unfit }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=49321&type=media |title= Ashley Wagner Announces Coaching Team |publisher= U.S. Figure Skating |date= June 25, 2013 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.mountain-news.com/sports/article_a8ab58d1-1946-5422-a4bd-d763f9e4eec6.html |title= Top Russian Figure Skating Coach at Ice Castle |first= Larry |last= Brunn |work= Mountain News (Lake Arrowhead, California) |date= 4 September 2003 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161219143509/http://www.mountain-news.com/sports/article_a8ab58d1-1946-5422-a4bd-d763f9e4eec6.html |archivedate= 19 December 2016 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/12/25/new-coach-helps-energize-kwan/ |title= New coach helps energize Kwan |first= Philip |last= Hersh |work= Chicago Tribune |date= December 25, 2003 }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.golos.am/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24449&Itemid=73 |script-title= ru:Армянский тренер готовит чемпионов мира |language= Russian |trans-title= Armenian coach prepares World champions |first= Vadim |last= Mkrtchyan |work= Golos Armenii |date= March 25, 2008 |archiveurl= https://archive.today/20130114175302/http://www.golos.am/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24449&Itemid=73 |archivedate= January 14, 2013 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite news |url= http://sportstories.rsport.ru/ss_person/20150105/795794183.html |title= Rafael Arutyunyan: Gaishniku skazal: "Ya ne pil, ya yedu Mishel Kvan trenirovat" |script-title=ru:Рафаэл Арутюнян: Гаишнику сказал: "Я не пил, я еду Мишель Кван тренировать" |language= Russian |trans-title=Rafael Arutyunyan told traffic cop: "I didn't drink, I'm driving to train Michelle Kwan" |first= Andrei |last= Simonenko |first2= Maria |last2= Vorobieva |work= rsport.ru |date= January 5, 2014 }}

{{cite news |url= http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2015/03/17/113124356 |title= Arutunian making up for lost time with Wagner |first= Lynn |last= Rutherford |work= IceNetwork.com |date= March 17, 2015 |access-date= March 17, 2015 |archive-date= July 3, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133712/http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2015/03/17/113124356 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite news |last1=Solari |first1=Chris |title=Olympics on mind, ice skater Hannah Miller off to California |url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/2015/06/15/skater-hannah-miller-moving/71248046/ |website=Lansing State Journal |publisher=Lansing State Journal |date= June 15, 2015 }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.eastwesticepalace.com/figure/staff-coaches.html |title=Staff Coaches |publisher= East West Ice Palace |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160414092318/http://www.eastwesticepalace.com/figure/staff-coaches.html |archivedate= April 14, 2016 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/05/10/figure-skating/mao-mystery-finally-solved-eight-years-later/ |title= Mao mystery finally solved eight years later |first= Jack |last= Gallagher |work= The Japan Times |date= May 10, 2016 }}

{{cite news |url= http://ducks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=885949 |title= Renowned Figure Skating Coach Rafael Arutyunyan to Make The Rinks – Lakewood Ice Main Training Facility Leading Into the 2018 Olympic Games |publisher= Anaheim Ducks / NHL |date= June 13, 2016 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160614162952/http://ducks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=885949 |archivedate= June 14, 2016 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |title= Michal Brezina wechselt zu Rafael Arutyunyan |url= http://www.long-program.com/2016/06/20/michal-brezina-wechselt-zu-rafael-aratunyan/ |first= Alexandra |last= Ilina |work= Long Program |date= June 20, 2016 }}

{{cite news |title= The Inside Edge: Aaron, Settlage announce split U.S. pair parts ways after seven years together; Hicks changes coaches |url= http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/08/03/193155062 |last= Brannen |first= Sarah S. |work= IceNetwork.com |date= August 3, 2016 |access-date= September 15, 2016 |archive-date= August 14, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160814213235/http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/08/03/193155062 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite tweet |title= Mariah Bell and Romain Ponsart have moved to Rafael. |number= 768101353986134016 |user= SkatingLesson |author= The Skating Lesson |date= August 23, 2016 }}

{{cite news |url= https://www.ozy.com/the-huddle/a-soviet-figure-skating-coach-and-his-unlikely-path-to-us-olympic-glory/83664 |title= A Soviet Figure Skating Coach and His Unlikely Path to U.S. Olympic Glory |first= Tal |last= Pinchevsky |website= ozy.com |date= February 23, 2018 }}

{{cite web |title=本田真凜が米国拠点、４年後へ浅田真央元コーチ師事 |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/201803290000865.html |website=Nikkan Sports |publisher=Nikkan Sports |access-date=12 June 2025}}

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{{commons category|Rafael Arutyunyan}}

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Category:Armenian figure skaters

Category:Figure skating coaches

Category:Sportspeople from Tbilisi

Category:1957 births

Category:Living people

Category:Soviet figure skaters

Category:Georgian people of Armenian descent

Category:Sportspeople from Artesia, California

Category:Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport alumni