A heart-wrenching moment unfolded on the ice as Maxim Naumov, a 23-year-old figure skater, broke down after an emotional performance dedicated to his late parents.

As reported by The New York Post, the young athlete took the rink at a charity event in Washington, D.C., honoring his parents—Evgenia “Zhenya” Shishkova and Vadim Naumov—who tragically lost their lives in the devastating plane crash that shook the figure skating community.

Mar 2, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Maxim Naumov rehearses his performance for the “Legacy on Ice” benefit at Capital One Arena. The event commemorated the victims of the Jan. 29 airplane crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and raised money to support a families and loved ones. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY

Naumov’s performance, part of the Legacy on Ice benefit event, was a tribute not only to his parents but also to the dozens of figure skaters and coaches who perished in the accident.

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As he concluded his routine, the grief became overwhelming. A chilling video captured him collapsing to his knees in tears before skating off while holding a candle, a poignant symbol of the lives lost.

The tragedy unfolded on January 29 when an American Airlines plane, carrying 67 passengers, collided with an Army helicopter and plunged into the icy Potomac River.

Jan 30, 2025; Washington D.C., USA; A Baltimore Police Department marine departs the Metropolitan Police Department Harbor Patrol facility on its way to the site of the crash between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter above Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, VA., on Jan. 29, 2025.. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY

Among those aboard were Naumov’s Russian-born parents, both world-renowned skating coaches and former champions. The two had been returning from a U.S. Figure Skating competition and training camp.

Maxim himself had competed at the national event, securing a fourth-place finish, but had returned home earlier. His parents, dedicated to their craft, stayed behind to continue coaching young skaters before boarding the doomed flight.

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Shishkova and Naumov were a force in the skating world, having won the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships in pairs. Their legacy lived on through their coaching at the Skating Club of Boston, where they mentored the next generation of figure skating talent.

The Legacy on Ice event drew a host of elite American figure skaters, many of whom shared personal connections with those lost. Among them were national champion Amber Glenn, two-time Olympian Johnny Weir, and reigning men’s world champion Ilia Malinin.

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Glenn also found herself overcome with emotion, breaking down in tears at the end of her performance.

“We’re all here to support one another, whether it was our friends that were on that plane, family members, coaches, teammates, loved ones,” said 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Jason Brown.

“We all travel for this sport. We get to do what we love. And travel is such a huge part of what we do, so it all hit us really hard because this is just such an integral part of what we do, as well as those are people that we’re closest to.”

For Naumov, the performance was more than just a tribute—it was a raw expression of loss, love, and the unbreakable bond he shared with his parents. Their impact on the sport remains undeniable, and their legacy will continue to inspire future generations of skaters.

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