Maxim Naumov Makes U.S. Figure Skating Olympic Team One Year After Losing Both Parents In D.C. Plane Crash
on Jan 12, 2026
Figure Skater Maxim Naumov Loses Both Parents In Fatal Crash
On January 29, 2025, 67 people were killed when an American Airlines passenger jet was struck by an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Among those who died were 28 members of the figure skating community who were returning from the 2025 Figure Skating Championships.
Skaters, parents, and coaches were listed among those who perished in the tragic crash. Maxim Naumov’s parents, 1994 World Champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were aboard that American Airlines flight.
Naumov is a gymnast-turned-ice skater three-time U.S. national medalist and the 2020 U.S. junior national champion. Just days before his parents were killed, Naumov earned a 4th place finish at the 2025 U.S. Championships. Their final social media post was expressing their pride over his accomplishment.
RELATED: UPDATED LIST: Victims Identified In Fatal D.C. Plane Crash
Maxim Naumov Selected For The U.S. Olympic Team
On Sunday (January 11), Naumov was among 16 skaters selected to the U.S. Olympic Team after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis.
Naumov earned the spot after he finished third behind U.S. champion Ilia Malinin and runner-up Andrew Torgashev. Following his routine, Naumov slipped on a “USA” jacket, and the crowd gave him a roaring applause.
Team USA posted the clip, with a caption reading “FOR MOM & DAD🥹.”
Maxim Naumov takes third at the U.S. National Championships with a combined score of 249.16. 🥉 pic.twitter.com/XDXuc0kXZP
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 11, 2026
After his routine at this week’s championships, Naumov held a photo of himself as a child on skates, holding his parents’ hands.
“I thought of them immediately,” Naumov said. “I wish they could be here to experience it with me, but I do feel their presence, and they are with me.”
The Olympic figure skating competition runs February 6th through the 19th in Milan, with Malinin entering as a gold-medal favorite after claiming his fourth straight U.S. title.
Our well wishes are with Maxim Naumov as he continues to be an inspiration in the figure skating world and beyond!
