Maxim Naumov completed his Olympic debut in Milan, qualifying for the final free skate competition in the individual event. The American figure skater’s journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics is a testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
Just over a year ago, Naumov’s parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were among the 67 people killed in a mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington, D.C. The flight carried a number of figure skating coaches, young athletes, and parents returning from a development camp. Maxim had taken an earlier flight home.
Vadim and Evgenia were not only Maxim’s parents but also his coaches, both having been Olympic pair skaters for Russia. They had been meticulously planning Maxim’s season, outlining a strategy for improvement and consistency following his fourth-place finish at the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. It was a detailed, 45-minute conversation – one of the last they would share.
“All I wanted to do in that moment was to lay in my bed or lay on my couch and just rot, essentially,” Naumov said, reflecting on the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. He contemplated abandoning his skating career altogether.
After months of grief and uncertainty, Naumov decided to return to the ice. He wanted to compete in the 2025-26 season, driven by a desire to honor his parents’ memory and carry forward their vision for his skating. He remembered his father’s words: “Be resilient.”
“You know, it’s just all about resilience,” Naumov told Olympics.com. “It’s all about being resilient. That’s the feeling and the mentality that I’ve clung onto this entire season.”
Naumov’s path to the Olympics was not without its challenges. Having lost his primary support system, he had to rebuild his training regimen from scratch. The figure skating community rallied around him, providing guidance and encouragement.
“The thing that has brought me the most joy this year is the entire figure skating community,” Naumov said. “I don’t know what I do without it, honestly. I’m so grateful and thankful to be a part of this community, having people by my side and guiding me and helping me achieve the things that I want to do has made the biggest difference.”
At the Olympics, Naumov carried photographs of his parents with him, a poignant reminder of their unwavering support. He displayed the photos while awaiting his scores, a gesture that resonated deeply with observers.
During his free skate, Naumov finished 20th overall. While the result may not reflect Olympic medal contention, his presence in the competition itself is a remarkable achievement. He had intended his free skate to be a story of self-discovery, and it became one in the face of profound loss.
The tragedy struck a particularly heavy blow to the figure skating world, as numerous other skaters and coaches were also among the victims of the plane crash. The American Airlines flight had departed Wichita, Kansas, following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Naumov’s story is particularly notable given the background of the American Olympic team. He, along with fellow skaters Ilia Malinin and Torgashev, all have Russian family roots, despite being born and raised in the United States.
NRK’s figure skating commentator, Fredrik Island Gustavsen, emphasized the significance of Naumov’s accomplishment. “After the tragic plane crash, many didn’t believe Maxim Naumov would continue to compete,” Gustavsen said. “He has shown an iron will to continue against all odds and has fought his way through the entire season. This is the story of an athlete who comes to the Olympics against all odds and rose up when things were at their darkest.”
Naumov’s journey is a powerful illustration of the human spirit’s capacity to overcome adversity. He has transformed unimaginable grief into a source of strength and determination, inspiring not only the figure skating community but also anyone who has faced loss and hardship. While a medal may not have been within reach in Milan, Maxim Naumov has already achieved a victory that transcends athletic competition – he has risen from the depths of sorrow to represent his country on the world’s biggest stage, carrying the legacy of his parents with him every step of the way.
He has, as Gustavsen put it, “rebuilt” himself.
