Nathan Chen Joins Hall Fame

The U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame has announced its prestigious Class of 2026, a group of legends selected to coincide with the Hall’s 50th-anniversary celebration. The induction ceremony will take place next month in St. Louis during the national championships, honoring individuals who have profoundly shaped the technical and competitive landscape of the sport.

A Revolutionary Legacy on Ice

Nathan Chen, often hailed as the “Quad King,” enters the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Over a 12-year competitive career, the Salt Lake City native redefined the limits of men’s skating:

• Technical Pioneer: He was the first athlete to land five different types of quadruple jumps in a single competition.
• Record Holder: His staggering overall score of 335.30, achieved during the 2019 Grand Prix Final, remains an unbroken world record.
• Olympic Hero: After a difficult debut in 2018, Chen secured the men’s individual gold medal and helped the U.S. win team gold at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Honoring the Architect and the Mentor

The 2026 “Golden Class” also recognizes two other pivotal figures:

• Rafael Arutyunyan: Chen’s longtime coach, Arutyunyan is celebrated for a 50-year career that spans continents. After coaching the Russian national team, he moved to the U.S. and guided a generation of American stars, including Michelle Kwan, Ashley Wagner, and Adam Rippon.
• Joseph Inman: A technical visionary and judge, Inman played a critical role in developing the International Judging System (IJS). His work was instrumental in bringing objectivity to the sport following the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics judging controversy.

Life After the Podium

Since stepping away from competitive skating, Chen has maintained a busy schedule outside the rink. A 2024 Yale University graduate, he is currently pursuing a career in medicine. He also serves on the 2034 Utah Olympics Athlete Advisory Committee, ensuring his hometown is prepared to host the world once again.

This induction serves as a definitive capstone to a career that was as resilient as it was revolutionary. By entering the Hall of Fame alongside the coach who refined his technique and the official who modernized the sport’s scoring, Chen’s legacy is positioned at the very center of figure skating’s technical evolution. His journey from a young skater in Utah to an Olympic champion and medical student continues to inspire a new generation of athletes to push past perceived boundaries.

Source: article on usfigureskating.org, published December 2, 2025.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer