Gurgen Vardanjan (Armenian: Գուրգեն Վարդանյան, Russian: Гурген Норикович Варданян,[1] born 18 October 1963) is an Armenian figure skating coach and former competitor for the Soviet Union. He is the 1983 Grand Prix International St. Gervais silver medalist and a two-time Prague Skate bronze medalist (1981, 1984).[2]

Gurgen Vardanjan
Born (1963-10-18) 18 October 1963 (age 61)
Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Figure skating career
CountrySoviet Union
Began skating1976
Retired1987

Personal life

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Vardanjan was born on 18 October 1963 in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union.[3] His sister, Asmik, is a former figure skater, and his wife, Jeranjak Ipakjan, is a skating coach and choreographer.[1] Their son, Tigran Vardanjan, was born on 26 March 1989 in Moscow and skated for Hungary.[4][5]

Vardanjan lived in Hungary from 1989[1] until April 2010, when he moved to Nottingham, England.[6]

Career

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Competitive

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Vardanjan began skating in 1976 at an outdoor rink in Yerevan.[1] His first coach was Elena Slepova.[7] After moving to Moscow, he was coached by Edouard Pliner and then by Elena Tchaikovskaya, from 1980 to 1986.[1][7]

International
Event 81–82 82–83 83–84 84–85 85–86
Prague Skate 3rd 3rd
Prize of Moscow News 6th
International St. Gervais 2nd

Post-competitive

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Vardanjan returned to Armenia in 1987 and became a coach at the same school where he had started skating.[1] He began working in Hungary in December 1989, teaching at an outdoor rink before relocating to the capital, Budapest.[7] He was based in Budapest until April 2010, when he was appointed Director of Skating at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham, England.[6][8]

Vardanjan is best known for his work with Júlia Sebestyén,[9] whom he began teaching in late 1989.[1] He has also coached Diána Póth,[10] Tamara Dorofejev,[11] Tigran Vardanjan, and David Richardson.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Asaturov, Ilya (March 2007). "Гурген Варданян: "Без помощи государства фигурному катанию не обойтись"" [Gurgen Vardanjan interview]. Noev Kovcheg, N 03 (114) (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  2. ^ "Results Book, Volume 2: 1974–current" (PDF). Skate Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2009.
  3. ^ "Гурген Норикович Варданян" [Gurgen Norikovich Vardanjan] (in Russian). fskate.ru.
  4. ^ "Tigran VARDANJAN". International Skating Union. 17 August 2011.
  5. ^ Bőd, Titanilla (20 February 2011). "Tigran Vardanjan: "I prefer shows to competitions"". Absolute Skating.
  6. ^ a b "National Ice Centre a New Appointment". National Ice Skating Association. 7 April 2010. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010.
  7. ^ a b c Geikhman, Tatiana (28 October 2009). "Варданян: Юля для меня уже как дочь" [Julia is like a daughter to me]. championat.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  8. ^ "An interview with Gurgen Vardanjan at the National Ice Centre…". National Ice Centre, Nottingham, England. 2010. Archived from the original on 10 August 2010.
  9. ^ "Julia SEBESTYEN: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010.
  10. ^ "Diana POTH: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. 29 July 2007.
  11. ^ Mittan, J. Barry (2000). "Hungary's Dorofejev Poised on Brink of Success". Archived from the original on 15 March 2012.
  12. ^ "David RICHARDSON". International Skating Union. 25 February 2014.