> At a Glance
> – Maxim Naumov competed at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships where his parents last saw him skate
> – His parents, former world champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, died in a Potomac River plane crash less than a year ago
> – The 24-year-old briefly led after his short program and fights for an Olympic spot
> – Why it matters: His journey shows how athletes process tragedy while pursuing lifelong dreams
Maxim Naumov stepped onto the ice Thursday night at the same arena where his parents watched him compete for the last time. The 24-year-old held his emotions steady until a standing ovation swept him off the ice and into the kiss-and-cry area where tears finally fell.
A Season of Resilience
Less than a year ago, his parents-former world champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova-were among 67 people killed when their plane collided with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River. Many victims were young skaters returning from a development camp after the previous nationals in Wichita, Kansas.
Naumov had flown home earlier from those championships. His parents stayed for the development camp and boarded the ill-fated flight home.
Finding Strength on Ice
He carried an old photograph to the kiss-and-cry: a 3-year-old Naumov in white skates between his parents at the International Skating Center of Connecticut.
> “It’s all about being resilient,” Naumov said. “That’s the feeling and mentality I’ve clung to this entire season.”
His short program opened with a quad salchow and closed with a triple-triple combination, briefly giving him the lead heading into Saturday’s free skate.
Carrying Forward a Legacy
Naumov has stepped into his parents’ role, leading the Skating Club of Boston’s youth academy they founded. He performed at a Washington benefit that raised over $1.2 million for victims’ families and earned heartfelt admiration at the world championships exhibition gala.
When discussing Olympic dreams, he still says “we,” as if his parents skate beside him.
> “It’s the ultimate goal,” he said. “It’s what my parents and I-one of our last conversations was about exactly that.”
Key Takeaways
- Naumov’s parents died in the Potomac River crash after last year’s nationals
- He briefly led the short program with a quad-triple performance
- The U.S. government admitted fault for the midair collision in January
- Naumov now leads his parents’ youth academy while pursuing Olympic qualification
His season stands as testament to pushing forward when grief threatens to paralyze, one skate stroke at a time.
