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Skater Competes Through Grief, Honors Lost Parents
11 Jan
Summary
- Skater Maxim Naumov competed in memory of parents lost in a crash.
- He held a photo of his parents as he awaited his competition score.
- Naumov's parents, former skaters, died in a helicopter-plane collision.
Figure skater Maxim Naumov competed at the U.S. Championships in St. Louis, channeling his grief into his performance nearly one year after losing his parents in a devastating Washington D.C. plane crash on January 29, 2025. During his routine, he held a cherished photograph of himself with his mother and father.
His parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were both former figure skaters. They were among the 67 individuals who died when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane. This incident was the first major U.S. commercial passenger plane crash since 2009.
Naumov's pursuit of an Olympic spot in Milan remains a central focus, a dream he shared with his parents. Despite the profound loss, he continues to train and compete, keeping their memory alive and striving to achieve the goals they discussed.
