> At a Glance
> – Maxim Naumov clutched a childhood photo of his parents while awaiting scores at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships
> – Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova died in the Jan. 29, 2025 Washington, D.C. plane crash
> – Naumov finished fourth in the short program, battling for one of three Olympic berths
> – Why it matters: His performance keeps the final 2026 team spot in reach and honors his parents’ final wish
Less than a year after American Airlines Flight 5342 claimed the lives of his parents, Maxim Naumov took the ice in St. Louis with their photo in hand and an Olympic dream on the line.
A Tribute on Ice
When the 24-year-old completed his short-program elements, cameras caught him raising a faded snapshot: three-year-old Maxim wedged between Russian Olympic pair skaters Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova. The gesture drew audible emotion from the Enterprise Center crowd and landed him an 85.72, briefly good for first place.
> “This program is very meaningful to me,” Naumov told News Of Los Angeles. “To go out there and really share that emotion with everybody has been unreal.”
The Battle for Team USA
Three men will represent the United States in Milan Cortina next winter. With Ilia Malinin and Jason Brown expected to secure the top two slots, Naumov must outlast Tomoki Hiwatashi and Andrew Torgashev in Saturday’s free skate to clinch the remaining seat.
Road to Recovery
- March 2025 – Returned to competition in the Legacy on Ice memorial
- April 2025 – Skated at Worlds, greeted by a minute-long standing ovation
- January 2026 – Sits fourth heading into the final day of nationals
Naumov credits the rink as the one place he still “talks” with his parents, who coached him through childhood in Connecticut and were en route home from a development camp when their flight collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac.
> “Every time I think of them, especially when I’m on the ice, it really, really helps me get through,” he said.
Key Takeaways
- Naumov’s fourth-place short program keeps his Olympic quest alive
- One remaining team spot is still up for grabs entering the free skate
- His parents’ final conversation with him was about qualifying for Italy 2026
The U.S. team announcement follows Sunday’s conclusion, leaving Naumov one performance from fulfilling a dream he shared with the two people who guided every glide and jump along the way.
