The figure skating community is grieving the loss of Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, two former world champions who were among the passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342. The plane collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, crashing into the Potomac River and claiming the lives of all on board.
Evgenia and Vadim, who won the World Championship in pairs skating in 1994, had been returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas. Just days before the tragedy, they had shared a touching message on social media, expressing their pride in their son, Maxim Naumov, who had finished fourth in the competition. “We are proud of you, Maxim,” they wrote. 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 released a statement expressing their devastation: “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 legacy in the sport. They were traveling with young skaters when the accident occurred, adding to the tragedy. The collision, which happened as the plane approached Reagan Washington National Airport, has left the figure skating community in mourning.
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.
