> At a Glance
> – Maxim Naumov competed at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships where his parents last watched him
> – Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova died in the January Potomac plane-helicopter collision that killed 67 people
> – The 24-year-old now leads his parents’ Boston youth academy and eyes Olympic qualification
> – Why it matters: His return to nationals shows how athletes carry personal tragedy into public arenas
Stepping onto the same ice where his parents last saw him compete, Maxim Naumov fought back tears until a standing ovation swept him off the rink Thursday night at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
A Year After the Crash
Less than 12 months have passed since the midair collision over the Potomac that claimed the lives of his parents-former world champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova-along with 24 young skaters and coaches returning from a Wichita development camp.
Naumov had flown home early; his parents stayed behind for the camp and boarded the ill-fated flight.
> “It’s all about being resilient,” Naumov said.
> “What if, despite everything that happened to me, I can go out and do it?”
Tributes on Ice
During his short program he landed:
- A quad salchow
- A triple-triple combination
That score briefly put him in first place before Saturday’s free skate.
In the kiss-and-cry he clutched a faded photo of himself, age 3, in white skates between his parents at the International Skating Center of Connecticut.
Carrying Forward
Naumov has:
- Performed at a D.C. benefit that raised $1.2 million for victims’ families
- Led the Skating Club of Boston youth academy his parents founded
- Spoken of making the Olympic team using “we,” as if they’re still beside him
> “One of our last conversations was about exactly that,” he said of Olympic qualification.
> “It would mean the world to me.”
Key Takeaways
- Naumov’s return to nationals marks a emotional milestone after the January crash
- He now coaches the next generation at his parents’ renowned academy
- Olympic qualification would fulfill one of their final conversations
With every glide, jump and landing, Naumov turns private grief into public strength, skating toward the Games his parents dreamed he’d reach.
