Honored USSR figure skating coach Viktor Kudryavtsev has passed away.

Honored Coach of the USSR and member of the Coaching Council of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR) Viktor Kudryavtsev died at the age of 89. The organization announced this on its website on June 22.

"The Russian Figure Skating Federation expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Viktor Nikolaevich Kudryavtsev. The bright memory of this wonderful man, athlete, coach, who devoted himself to figure skating, served this sport, his work, will remain in our hearts," the publication says.

Viktor Kudryavtsev was born on October 24, 1937 in Tula. He started skating at the age of 16, and after graduating from the State Central Order of Lenin Institute of Physical Culture in 1960, he switched to coaching.

Over more than six decades of work, he has trained many famous figure skaters. Among his students are Sergey Volkov, the first world champion in men's singles in the history of Soviet figure skating, as well as Maria Butyrskaya, Ilya Kulik, Ilya Averbukh, Elena Sokolova, Kira Ivanova, Nikolai Morozov, Igor Pashkevich, Victoria Volchkova and other athletes.

"His invaluable workshops and consultations were in demand in dozens of countries around the world, but the main priority for him has always been the development of domestic sports. He actively traveled around the Russian regions, helping to open specialized schools and passing knowledge from hand to hand to young specialists," the organization noted.