{"id":14603,"date":"2026-01-30T23:45:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T23:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/figure-skater-maxim-naumov-reflects-on-parents-deaths-1-year-later\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T23:45:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T23:45:03","slug":"figure-skater-maxim-naumov-reflects-on-parents-deaths-1-year-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/figure-skater-maxim-naumov-reflects-on-parents-deaths-1-year-later\/","title":{"rendered":"Figure Skater Maxim Naumov Reflects on Parents’ Deaths 1 Year Later"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Figure skater Maxim Naumov<\/strong> is reflecting on his parents\u2019 deaths one year after they were killed in the mid-air collision above the Potomac River.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe that it\u2019s already been one full year. The most difficult year of my entire life,\u201d Maxim, 24, wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of his mom, Evgenia Shishkova<\/strong>, and dad, Vadim Naumov<\/strong>, on Thursday, January 29. \u201cI still find myself waking up some days and just wondering why? How could this all have happened? For what reason? Why were they taken away from me so soon?\u201d<\/p>\n

Maxim continued, \u201cUnfortunately, there are always more questions than answers. But, despite all of that I get ready, put on my coat and head out the door. Every. Single. Day. Because I have a job to do. I am quickly reminded of the goal we set out to achieve when I was 5 years old. Together. As a family.\u201d<\/p>\n

The athlete, who was named to Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics following the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in early January, added, \u201cNow, 19 years later, we are here. We did it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Maxim-Naumov-Kiss-and-Cry-GettyImages-2255321298\"<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n

\n

Related: <\/span>Maxim Naumov Honors Late Parents After Plane Crash at 2026 US Championships<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tFigure skater Maxim Naumov kept his late parents, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, close to his heart when he competed at the 2026 United States Figure Skating Championships. After his short program on Thursday, January 8, Maxim, 24, sat in the \u201ckiss-and-cry\u201d booth to receive his scores alongside coach Vladimir Petrenko. While awaiting the results, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Maxim concluded, \u201c\u041c\u0430\u043c\u0430 \u0438 \u041f\u0430\u043f\u0430, I love and miss you with all of my heart. Both of you have always been my superheroes. And now, you really are flying over me and protecting me. I pray that you are at peace. May god bless your hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vadim, 55, and Evgenia, 52, who were the 1994 world figure skating champions in pairs for Russia, were passengers onboard American Eagle Flight 5342 when the plane collided with a United States Army Black Hawk helicopter in mid-air over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The crash was the deadliest on American soil in more than two decades.<\/p>\n

Fourteen young figure skaters, their parents and coaches were among the 67 passengers aboard the flight, as they were on their way back from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.<\/p>\n

\n
\"GettyImages-1280181-vadim-evgenia\"<\/div>

\n Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov performing in 1994<\/span> Chris Cole\/ALLSPORT<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a December 2025 response to a lawsuit filed by the family of one of the victims, the U.S. government admitted that it believes the actions of air traffic controllers and Army helicopter pilots played a role in the collision.<\/p>\n

Three days before the crash, Vadim and Evgenia took to Instagram to express how proud they were of their son.<\/p>\n

\n
\n