Maxim Naumov, a figure skater, returned to the ice for a powerful routine honoring his late parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, who died in a plane crash in Washington, D.C. in January.
Maxim, 23, performed a solo routine to “The City That Doesn’t Exist” at the Legacy on Ice U.S. Figure Skating Benefit on Sunday, March 2, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Prior to his performance, Naumov placed two white roses on a table near the rink.
After finishing his emotional routine, he dropped to his knees and began crying in front of a spotlight. The sold-out arena crowd, many of whom were visibly crying, gave Maxim a long standing ovation.
The event benefited the loved ones and families of those affected by the January 29 plane crash, which killed 28 figure skaters. A commercial airliner collided with an Army helicopter near D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, killing 67 people.
Maxim’s parents were in attendance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, just a few days before the crash.
Evgenia, 52, and Vadim, 55, the 1994 world pairs skating champions, remained in Wichita to coach the U.S. National Development Camp as part of their affiliation with The Skating Club of Boston.
“Max was competing at the U.S. Championships in the senior men’s event, championship men,” Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe stated in a January 30 press conference. “He finished fourth, which is a medal position. His stay in Wichita ended on Sunday with the men’s event. He was actually on a flight on Monday. I got back with him. He saw no reason to stay at the National Development Camp.”
After his parents died, Maxim was surrounded by loved ones.
“I know a couple who is with him right now,” Ekaterina “Katia” Gordeeva, a former teammate and close friend of the Naumovs, told People. “They weren’t even in Washington yet, but … that morning [of the plane crash], we all connected right away.”
Gordeeva explained that the woman staying with Maxim was “like a godmother to him, and she is with him right now there, along with her husband.”
Sunday’s benefit featured performances and appearances by prominent figure skaters from various generations, including former Olympian Johnny Weir, who is now a coach after retiring from performing in 2023.
“Imagining that it could have been their mom or family on the plane, it’s just devastating,” Weir, 40, said after his performance, which was set to “Memory” from Cats. “I could never say that this event provides closure, but it demonstrates to the kids I work with every day that great skaters can be torn up about things while still showing up for others. It’s okay to be sad.”
He concluded: “I think the moment of unity is the greatest gift we can give to those people we lost.”
