*This content was translated by AI.
The protagonist of the tragedy wrote a miracle. Maxime Naumov (25) of the U.S. national figure skating team, who lost his parents in a plane accident a year ago, kept his promise with his parents in the sky.
Local media, including the US media 'The Washington Post', reported the news of Naumov's participation in the 2026 Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, highlighting his tragic family history and drama of human victory.
According to local reports, an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter collided over the Potomac River near Now Washington, D.C., killing all 67 passengers in January last year. The plane was boarded by Vadim Naumov and Yevgenia Shishikova, who were Naumov's parents and coaches. It was a tragedy in the figure skating world, where 28 figure skaters were killed.
Naumov's parents were the 1994 World Championship pair champions and two-time Olympian legendary skaters. After retirement, he moved to Connecticut in the United States and began his leadership career by raising his son.
The last conversation was at a hotel in Wichita, Kansas, three days before the accident. At the time, his father Vadim advised, "If you change your way of thinking and follow your plan, you can go to the Olympics," and reportedly said goodbye to his mother, who was not feeling well, holding her toes and playing around.
According to the Washington Post, Naumov, who was exposed to his parents' grief, fell into severe despair enough to express, "I wanted to lie on my bed or sofa and rot."
It was the Olympic aspirations that led the wandering Naumov back on the ice. Naumov, who met choreographer Benoit Rishaw at an Italian training camp, chose Chopin's No. 20 Nocturne. Naumov also confessed that he devoted himself to training, saying, "I thought I could hear my parents' voices on the ice."
Naumov entered the National Championship in January, where his Olympic berth was at stake. In the short program, Naumov shed tears as he held up a photo of himself with his parents as a child in Kiss & Cryzone after performing all his heart out.
Going to the Olympics was a rough ride. Naumov made a jump mistake in free skating, making it unclear whether he would advance to the Olympics on his own. With Ilya Malinin overwhelmingly in first place, veteran Jason Brown, who was a strong second-place candidate, remained in order, making Naumov's elimination likely. Naumov also said, "I cried my eyes out because I think it's all over. The game was already out of my hands," he said at the time.
An extraordinary event has taken place. Brown was pushed out of the rankings after suffering an unusual slump due to a series of jump mistakes. In the midst of his competitor's slump, Naumov dramatically qualified for the Olympics, reaching the final third place.
Coach Elena Petrenko, who claimed to be Naumov's surrogate mother, was thrilled, saying, "We live the American dream." American figure skating legends such as Scott Hamilton also celebrated Naumov's trip to the Olympics.
"The last conversation I had with my parents was about the Olympics," Naumov said. "It was my family's dream to participate in the Olympics. My parents in heaven will also be proud," he added.
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*This content was translated by AI.
