Tragedy struck the figure skating community when an American Airlines regional flight crashed near Reagan Washington National Airport. The plane, carrying 64 passengers and crew, was on its way from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C. when it collided midair with a U.S. Army helicopter.
Among those on board were well-known Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the world pairs title in 1994. The Kremlin has acknowledged that Russian citizens were involved, expressing sorrow over the situation. Current reports suggest that there may not be any survivors from the crash.
The United States Figure Skating organization revealed that the passengers were returning from a development camp held after the recent U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas. More than 180 athletes participated in the championships, and nearly 150 young skaters joined the development camp.
After the crash, the International Skating Union (ISU) expressed deep sadness, sharing their condolences with the affected families. They emphasized the close-knit nature of the figure skating community, highlighting how everyone stands together during such hard times.
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were both remarkable competitors. They participated in six world championships and earned multiple medals. After retiring from competitive skating—failing to qualify for the 1998 Nagano Olympics—they moved to the U.S. to coach young talent. Their son, Maxim Naumov, had recently competed in the U.S. national championships, placing fourth, but he was not on the flight.
Former skater Inna Volyanskaya, another coach in the figure skating community, was also reported to be on the plane. The Russian Figure Skating Federation expressed shock and grief, noting the contributions of those who were lost.
Many in the figure skating world are mourning, especially Ludmila Velikova, who coached Shishkova and Naumov during their early careers. She spoke about her heartache over losing such talented individuals, who she considered like her own children. Velikova described them as beautiful people who had a profound impact on her life and the sport.
This devastating event has left a mark on the entire skating family, as friends and colleagues come to terms with the loss of these beloved figures.
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