Rafael Arutyunyan

Personal life

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.

Coaching career

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.

His current students include:

• Sofia Bezkorovainaya USA (2025 – present)
• Eliška Březinová CZE (2025 – present)
• Chen Yudong CHN (2023 – present), three-time Chinese National champion (2023–2025)
• Aleksandr Fegan USA (2025 – present)
• Petr Gumennik RUS (2021 – present), 2023 Russian National silver medalist and 2024 Russian National bronze medalist
• Li Yu-Hsiang TPE (2025 – present),
• Ilia Malinin 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, and 2022 Junior World champion
• Matthew Nielsen USA (2019 – present)
• Camden Pulkinen USA (May 2022 – present), 2-time U.S. National bronze medalist (2024–25)
• Georgii Reshtenko CZE (2025 – present)
• Aleksandr Selevko EST (2024 – present)
• Mihhail Selevko EST (2024 – present)
• Hetty Shi CAN (2023 – present)
• Eric Sjoberg USA (2013 – present)
• Artur Smagulov KAZ (2023 – present)
• Andrew Torgashev USA (2020 – present), 2023 U.S. National bronze medalist and 2025 U.S. National silver medalist
• Sofia Samodelkina Kazakhstan (2024 – present), 2025 Kazakh National champion, 2025 World University Games bronze medalist

His former students include:

• Alexander Abt Russia (early 1990s – 2002) 2003 Russian National Champion, 2002 European silver medalist, 1998 European bronze medalist
• Mao Asada (summer 2006 – January 2008), coached to win 2007 World silver medal, 2006 Grand Prix Final title, and two Japanese National titles (2007–08)
• Mariah Bell USA (August 2016 – October 2022), 2022 U.S. National champion
• Michal Březina CZE (June 2016 – March 2022)
• Jeffrey Buttle CAN (2004 – 2008), 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, 2008 World champion, and four-time Canadian National champion (2004–07)
• Nathan Chen USA (2011 – 2022), 2022 Men’s Singles Olympic Champion, 2022 Olympic U.S. Team gold medalist, 2018 Olympic U.S. Team bronze medalist, 3-time World champion (2018–19, 2021), 2017–2022 U.S. National champion, 3-time Grand Prix Final champion (2017–19), and 2017 Four Continents champion
• Mandy Chiang TPE (2018 – 2020)
• Sasha Cohen US (2009),
• Ivan Dinev BUL (2002 – 2003),
• Stephen Gogolev CAN (June 2019 – 2024), 2019 Junior Grand Prix Final champion
• Marin Honda JPN (March 2018 – 2019),
• Taichi Honda JPN, (March 2018 – 2021)
• Alexa Knierim / Brandon Frazier USA (2020 – 2022), 2022 World champions and 2022 Grand Prix Final silver medalists
• Alexa Knierim / Chris Knierim (2019 – 2020),
• Kiira Korpi FIN (August 2013 – 2014),
• Michelle Kwan US (2003 – 2006), coached to win 2004 World bronze medal and two U.S. National championship titles (2004–05)
• Hiu Ching Kwong HKG (2019 – 2020),
• Alexandra Ievleva Russia (1996 – 2000) (2008 – 2010),
• Vivian Le (June 2016 – December 2017),
• Lim Eun-soo KOR (April 2018 – September 2019),
• Amy Lin TPE (2017 – 2018),
• Hannah Miller USA (June 2015 – August 2016),
• Hovhannes Mkrtchyan ARM (unknown – 2011),
• Andrea Montesinos Cantú MEX (2017 – 2023),
• Romain Ponsart FRA (August 2016 – March 2022),
• Adam Rippon USA (September 2012 – March 2018), 2016 U.S. national champion, 2018 Winter Olympics U.S. Team bronze medalist
• Audrey Shin USA (2016 – 2018),
• Alexander Shubin RUS (unknown – 2001),
• Sergei Voronov RUS (unknown – 2000),
• Ashley Wagner USA (June 2013 – March 2018), 2016 World silver medalist, 2014 Winter Olympics U.S. Team bronze medalist, and three-time U.S. National champion

References

References

1. KABC. (2019-07-23). "World famous figure skating coach Rafael Arutyunyan to become U.S. citizen at L.A. Convention Center".
2. McCarvel, Nick. (2019-08-05). "With Congrats from a Global Team of Skaters, Rafael Arutunian Becomes U.S. Citizen".
3. "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".
4. "Sofia Bezkorovainaya: 2025/2026". [[International Skating Union]].
5. "📢 Nová sezóna, nový tým, nové výzvy. Těším se na tuhle cestu s vámi! ⛸️🔥". Instagram.
6. "Yudong CHEN: 2024/2025". [[International Skating Union]].
7. "Aleksandr FEGAN: 2025/2026". [[International Skating Union]].
8. "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.”".
9. "Yu-Hsiang LI: 2024/2025". International Skating Union.
10. "Matthew Nielsen". U.S. Figure Skating.
11. "Camden Pulkinen: 2023/2024".
12. "Georgii RESHTENKO: 2025/2026". International Skating Union.
13. "Aleksandr SELEVKO: 2024/2025 (2nd FS)". International Skating Union.
14. "Mihhail SELEVKO: 2024/2025". [[International Skating Union]].
15. "Hetty SHI: 2023/2024". [[International Skating Union]].
16. "2014 U.S. National Championships". Ice Skating International: Online.
17. "Artur SMAGULOV: 2023/2024". International Skating Union.
18. "Andrew Torgashev: 2023/2024".
19. "Бросившая Россию фигуристка заглянула в Москву ради роликов с Трусовой и Щербаковой. А теперь позирует в США".
20. Mittan, Barry. (2008-05-31). "Buttle Bounces Back".
21. (2022-05-12). "Nathan Chen: 2021/2022".
22. "Mandy CHIANG: 2019/2020". International Skating Union.
23. "Sasha Cohen excited for her comeback". CBC Sports.
24. "Ivan DINEV: 2002/2003". International Skating Union.
25. "Alexa Scimeca Knierim / Brandon Frazier: 2020/2021".
26. "Three-time U.S. champions Alexa Knierim and Chris Knierim: ‘We’re fighting for our dreams’". Figure Skaters Online.
27. "Hiu Ching KWONG: 2019/2020". International Skating Union.
28. "Alexandra IEVLEVA: 2007/2008". International Skating Union.
29. "Rafael Arutyunyan, Nathan Chen’s Coach: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.
30. "Eunsoo LIM: 2018/2019". International Skating Union.
31. "Amy LIN: 2017/2018". International Skating Union.
32. "Hovhannes MKRTCHYAN: 2010/2011". International Skating Union.
33. "Biography".
34. "Reality check: Audrey Shin is what’s happening in U.S. women’s skating". NBC Sports.
35. "Alexander SHUBIN: 2000/2001". International Skating Union.
36. link. [[:ru:Соловьёв, Василий Анатольевич. solovieff.ru]]
37. (April 25, 2014). "2013 - 2014 Coach/Instructor Compliance". [[U.S. Figure Skating]].
38. (September 11, 2012). "Rippon Announces Coaching Change". [[U.S. Figure Skating]].
39. (August 23, 2013). "Korpi to train with Arutunian in Lake Arrowhead". [[IceNetwork.com]].
40. "Coaching Staff". Ice Castle International Training Center.
41. "Sergei VORONOV: 2009/2010". International Skating Union.
42. (June 25, 2013). "Ashley Wagner Announces Coaching Team". [[U.S. Figure Skating]].
43. Brunn, Larry. (4 September 2003). "Top Russian Figure Skating Coach at Ice Castle". Mountain News (Lake Arrowhead, California).
44. Hersh, Philip. (December 25, 2003). "New coach helps energize Kwan". Chicago Tribune.
45. link. Vadim. Mkrtchyan. [[Golos Armenii]]. (March 25, 2008)
46. Simonenko, Andrei. (January 5, 2014). "Rafael Arutyunyan: Gaishniku skazal: "Ya ne pil, ya yedu Mishel Kvan trenirovat"". rsport.ru.
47. Rutherford, Lynn. (March 17, 2015). "Arutunian making up for lost time with Wagner". [[IceNetwork.com]].
48. (June 15, 2015). "Olympics on mind, ice skater Hannah Miller off to California". Lansing State Journal.
49. "Staff Coaches". East West Ice Palace.
50. Gallagher, Jack. (May 10, 2016). "Mao mystery finally solved eight years later". [[The Japan Times]].
51. (June 13, 2016). "Renowned Figure Skating Coach Rafael Arutyunyan to Make The Rinks – Lakewood Ice Main Training Facility Leading Into the 2018 Olympic Games". Anaheim Ducks / NHL.
52. Ilina, Alexandra. (June 20, 2016). "Michal Brezina wechselt zu Rafael Arutyunyan". Long Program.
53. Brannen, Sarah S.. (August 3, 2016). "The Inside Edge: Aaron, Settlage announce split U.S. pair parts ways after seven years together; Hicks changes coaches". [[IceNetwork.com]].
54. The Skating Lesson. (August 23, 2016). "Mariah Bell and Romain Ponsart have moved to Rafael.".
55. Pinchevsky, Tal. (February 23, 2018). "A Soviet Figure Skating Coach and His Unlikely Path to U.S. Olympic Glory".
56. "本田真凜が米国拠点、４年後へ浅田真央元コーチ師事". Nikkan Sports.