PSA Hall of Fame Class of 2020

Professional Skaters Association Announces Figure Skating Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2020

June 2, 2020 - The Professional Skaters Association proudly welcomes Dr. Richard Porter, Vicki Korn, and Rafael Arutyunyan to the PSA Coaches Hall of Fame. Their inductions were formally announced during the Virtual Edi Awards Presentation on May 21, 2020.

The Figure Skating Coaches Hall of Fame is the highest award of recognition by the PSA and recognizes a lifetime of accomplishment in coaching. Through the success of their athletes and/or their profound contribution to the coaching profession these coaches have made a significant impact. The candidate must have produced the majority of their work in the United States. They must be a member of the Professional Skaters Association now or in the past and may be living or deceased.

Please join us in honoring Dr. Porter, Vicki Korn, and Rafael Arutyunyan to celebrate their many profound contributions to the sport.

Dr. Richard Porter

Dr. Richard Porter

U.S. Figure Skating Museum & Hall of Fame

Dr. Richard Porter, a longtime University of Michigan health department professor, loved skating. A lowerlevel judge, he skated himself during adult sessions and enjoyed sharing the sport with his daughters, their friends, University of Michigan colleagues, and those associated with the Ann Arbor FSC. Dr. Porter is considered to be the “father” of Synchronized Skating. It can be said that Dr. Porter created his field “by accident". The concept of precision team skating came to Porter in the fall of 1956 when he observed a group of teen girls — members of the previous year's skating chorus at the Ann Arbor FSC — choreographing steps and moves on the ice. Within a few months, the team of two dozen girls helped to create programs to perform between periods at two University of Michigan hockey games, and thus, the Hockettes were born. Dr. Porter was also instrumental in setting up the rules for the first precision team competition and by 1976 there were 17 teams at the Ann Arbor competition — which currently is known as the Dr. Richard Porter Synchronized Classic. Due to the vision, dedication, and early leadership of Dr. Richard Porter, thousands of skaters around the world are enjoying the discipline of synchronized skating.

Vicki Korn

Vicki Korn

Few people can be described as an institution, but former Miami University head synchronized skating coach Vicki Korn has earned that moniker. Her landmark accomplishments at the National and World level in the synchronized skating discipline are many. Between 2000-2008, she coached teams to seven different international medals including the silver medal at the World Synchronized Championships in 2006 and 2007. Vicki’s mark on the skating community is not reserved for team honors alone — she was the 2007 PSA Coach of the Year and holds three PSA master ratings. Along with these accolades, Vicki has always been a supporter of PSA while presenting at many conferences and serving as a rating examiner. Vicki’s passion and enthusiasm has touched many.

Vicki was the 2007 PSA Coach of the Year

Vicki presents on-ice at the 2009 PSA Conference & Trade Show in Orlando, FL

Rafael Arutyunyan

Rafael Arutyunyan

Rafael Arutyunyan is becoming legendary having coached some of the world’s best skaters over the last two decades. Born in Tbilis, USSR, now Georgia, figure skating became his passion as a young boy, and he became a hometown champion multiple times. He became a full time coach at age 18 while studying Physical Culture and Sport. In 1984, he was invited to work at one of the leading sports clubs in Moscow coaching skaters to the World and Olympic level. Since 2001, Rafael has lived and worked in California where his coaching magic continues to thrive producing National, World and Olympic competitors and champions such as Ashley Wagner, Jeffrey Buttle, Adam Rippon, Alexander Abt, Mao Asada, Michelle Kwan, Mariah Bell, and Nathan Chen. This year his athletes won top honors at U.S. Figure Skating Championships and Grand Prix events.

Rafael Arutyunyan demonstrates how he works with his skaters at the 2016 PSA Conference & Trade Show in Las Vegas, NV.

Rafael Arutyunyan with skater Nathan Chen at the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Photo by Vicki Luy