Almost a year after a tragic loss, Maxim Naumov is headed towards winter Olympics. The Hartford-born figure skater finished third at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis on Sunday, securing her spot at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Following the death of his parents at the end of January last year, it can be said that 2025 was a tumultuous year for Maxim to say the least. The upcoming Games in February will be her first on that stage after winning a bronze medal at the US Championships, her best performance to date at that competition.
Maxim Naumov’s parents died in a plane crash
There’s less than a month to go until the 25th Winter Olympics begins, but we already have a feel-good story in the making. Although it comes in the wake of sadness and tragedy, Maxim’s trip to Italy will certainly be a source of inspiration and a widely discussed topic before figure skating events.
Maxim’s parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were killed in a plane crash on January 29, 2025. American Eagle Flight 5342 collides with a military helicopter over Washington, DC.
After his program on Sunday, Maxim admitted that he was not sure he would be able to compete or skate because of everything he had endured. He said, “Honestly, I don’t even have words to describe what I had to go through to reach here.” Maxim said he relied on the support he received from others last year to move forward.
Upon hearing of his parents’ deaths, he admitted that he never wanted to compete again. He says he and his parents always talked about going to the Olympics one day. His qualification comes amid some negative news about the sport, especially about a former athlete. Oksana Baiul lost custody of her child. There were allegations of abuse during her marriage to Carlo Farina.
Now Maxim will get his chance to compete in the Olympics, as he is one of 16 skaters vying for a spot on the U.S. team. Maxim was in third place behind Ilya Malinin and Andrew Torgashev, who finished first and second respectively at the weekend event. The Olympics are starting from 6 February.
Tell us – what do you think about Maxim Naumov’s chances of earning a medal at the upcoming Olympics?