Russian Skating Champions
Russian ice skating coaches and former world champions, Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were among the passengers on board the American Airlines plane that tragically crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.
The crash occurred following a midair collision with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport, as reported by Russian state media.
Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, were celebrated for their success in the sport of figure skating, particularly in the discipline of pairs. The couple won the prestigious World Championships in 1994, establishing themselves as prominent figures in the world of ice skating.
After their competitive careers, they relocated to the United States in 1998, where they continued to contribute to the sport by training and coaching young skaters.
Their son, Maxim, who had represented the United States in singles figure skating competitions, was also feared to have been on the plane.
Maxim had recently participated in the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, from January 20-26, according to the event’s website. It is believed that the family was returning from the competition and traveling alongside a group of young skaters.
In addition to the skating couple and their son, several other figures connected to the skating world were reportedly on the plane. A total of 13 individuals, many of them children of Russian émigrés residing in the United States, were feared to have been on board.
Among them was Inna Volyanskaya, a former skater who competed for the Soviet Union and later became a coach at the Washington Figure Skating Club.
The midair collision and subsequent crash claimed the lives of those on the American Airlines regional passenger jet and the US Army helicopter.
This tragic event has deeply impacted the figure skating community, with many expressing their condolences and solidarity for the victims and their families.
