The figure skating community is in mourning following the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 5342, which claimed the lives of former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The couple, who were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas, were among the 64 people on board the plane when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.
Evgenia and Vadim, who won the World Championship in pairs skating in 1994, had recently shared their pride in their son, Maxim Naumov, a talented skater who had just finished fourth at the championships. “We are proud of you, Maxim,” they wrote in a social media post days before the crash. Maxim, 23, was not on the flight, having left Kansas earlier in the week.
The flight was carrying a group of skaters, coaches, and their families who had attended the National Development Camp. U.S. Figure Skating expressed their sorrow in a statement, saying, “We are heartbroken by this unimaginable tragedy and extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims.”
Evgenia and Vadim had moved to the U.S. in 1998 to coach, leaving a lasting impact on the sport. They were traveling with young skaters when the accident occurred, adding to the heartbreak of the tragedy. The collision, which happened as the plane approached Reagan Washington National Airport, has left the figure skating community reeling.
As tributes pour in for the couple, the focus has turned to their son, Maxim, who now carries the weight of his parents’ legacy. Fans and fellow skaters have taken to social media to offer their support and honor the memory of Evgenia and Vadim, whose contributions to the sport will never be forgotten.
