Peter Burrows elected to US Figure Skating Hall of Fame

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) Olympic figure skating coach Peter Burrows has been elected posthumously to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Burrows was selected Thursday to the hall's class of 2017.

Burrows, who died in 2014 at age 75, was a coaching fixture in the New York metropolitan area for more than 50 years. He was the primary coach for 1982 world champion Elaine Zayak, and for 1997-98 U.S. pairs champions Kyoko Ina and Jason Dungjen.

In 1976, Burrows worked with Dorothy Hamill prior to the Innsbruck Olympics. Although Carlo Fassi was her coach, Hamill wrote in her autobiography that Burrows played a key role in her Olympic gold medal.

Burrows coached at Sport-O-Rama in Monsey, New York, where he was the executive director of figure skating for more than 35 years. He also operated the Peter Burrows Skating Center at Iceland in New Hyde Park for 19 years.

The lone inductee for the Class of 2017, Burrows will enter the hall at the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose.

''We are very pleased with the election of Peter Burrows to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame,'' said Dr. Larry Mondschein, the hall's nominating committee chair. ''Mr. Burrows will always be known for his love of teaching skaters at all levels and abilities. His legacy continues to live on in his former pupils who have gone on to successful coaching careers.''