Maxim Naumov has achieved a dream he shared with his late parents, who were killed in a plane crash just over a year ago, by making it onto the US Olympic figure skating team. The 24-year-old from Connecticut will compete alongside world champions Ilia Malinin and ice dance duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Naumov's parents, Vadim and Evgenia Shishkova, were returning from a talent camp in Kansas when their American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter and crashed into the icy Potomac River in January 2025. In one of his last conversations with them before they passed away, Naumov spoke about following in their footsteps by becoming an Olympian.
Naumov has spoken publicly about how his parents' deaths motivated him to pursue his dreams. "We absolutely did it," he said, overcome with emotion. "Every day, year after year, we talked about the Olympics. It means so much in our family. It's what I've been thinking about since I was 5 years old."
Naumov will join Malinin and other top US skaters on a powerful team that is expected to dominate the figure skating competitions at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The men's competition, led by Malinin, is expected to be particularly fierce, with Andrew Torgashev also making the Olympic team.
The ice dance duo of Chock and Bates will also compete, along with world champion Alysa Liu and women's teammate Amber Glenn. However, their main rival for gold is expected to come from within their own teammates, as both Levito and Glenn have been nearly unbeatable in recent competitions.
Levito, a former world silver medalist, will be competing alongside the top American pairs team, Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, and Emily Chan and Spencer Howe. However, despite efforts by the Skating Club of Boston and US senators to secure Efimova's citizenship, she has not received her passport in time for the Olympics.
The importance of selecting an Olympic team is a milestone moment for athletes, according to U.S. Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell. "It's one of the most important milestones in an athlete's life," he said. "and while there are sometimes rules, there is also a human element to this that we really have to take into account as we make decisions and what's best going forward from a selection process."
Naumov's parents, Vadim and Evgenia Shishkova, were returning from a talent camp in Kansas when their American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter and crashed into the icy Potomac River in January 2025. In one of his last conversations with them before they passed away, Naumov spoke about following in their footsteps by becoming an Olympian.
Naumov has spoken publicly about how his parents' deaths motivated him to pursue his dreams. "We absolutely did it," he said, overcome with emotion. "Every day, year after year, we talked about the Olympics. It means so much in our family. It's what I've been thinking about since I was 5 years old."
Naumov will join Malinin and other top US skaters on a powerful team that is expected to dominate the figure skating competitions at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The men's competition, led by Malinin, is expected to be particularly fierce, with Andrew Torgashev also making the Olympic team.
The ice dance duo of Chock and Bates will also compete, along with world champion Alysa Liu and women's teammate Amber Glenn. However, their main rival for gold is expected to come from within their own teammates, as both Levito and Glenn have been nearly unbeatable in recent competitions.
Levito, a former world silver medalist, will be competing alongside the top American pairs team, Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, and Emily Chan and Spencer Howe. However, despite efforts by the Skating Club of Boston and US senators to secure Efimova's citizenship, she has not received her passport in time for the Olympics.
The importance of selecting an Olympic team is a milestone moment for athletes, according to U.S. Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell. "It's one of the most important milestones in an athlete's life," he said. "and while there are sometimes rules, there is also a human element to this that we really have to take into account as we make decisions and what's best going forward from a selection process."
Can't believe Maxim Naumov made the Olympic team his parents would be so proud 
. and now he gets to compete alongside world champs like Ilia Malinin and Madison Chock & Evan Bates 
. i'm also loving the ice dance duo of Chock & Bates, they're so talented together! but ugh, it's sad that Efimova isn't going to be able to compete due to passport issues 
. anyway, i'm def rooting for Naumov and the US team at the Milan Cortina Olympics 
. I'm rooting for him BIG TIME! 
. That's amazing news for him and his family who sadly lost their parents in a plane crash last year. It's so cool that he got to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming an Olympian 
.
It's crazy to think about how much of an impact a plane crash had on their lives and now his, but at least he gets to carry on their legacy by chasing his dreams 
. I HOPE HE GOES OUT THERE AND GIVES IT HIS ALL IN MILAN CORTINA!!! 
his parents' legacy lives on 
maxim's parents died in a plane crash, but instead of letting that bring him down, he's now gonna crush it on the ice 
and his family's legacy lives on. i'm not crying, you're crying 
. seriously though, this kid's got heart & determination – can't wait to see him take on malinin & co at milan cortina 
So nice to see another talented skater get the chance to make their parents proud... again 
. I mean, who needs personal growth or finding their own identity when you can just skate for your deceased loved ones? 
Naumov's dedication is super admirable and all, but can't he have a life outside of figure skating too? 
It's not like his parents' plane crash was a tragedy that took the world by storm or anything... 
can you believe it? Maxim Naumov finally made it onto the US Olympic figure skating team! I'm so stoked for him, it's amazing how his parents' passing motivated him to keep chasing his dreams 
that must've been so tough for him. and yet, he still finds a way to keep moving forward and make his family proud 
. that's so inspiring to me 
oh man i'm literally sobbing thinking about Maxim Naumov making it onto the US Olympic figure skating team 
the whole figure skating community is rooting for you, Maxim! 
i mean, his whole life has been about following their dreams and now he gets to live them out on the biggest stage. what must be going through his mind right now?! 
just found out about Maxim Naumov making it onto the US Olympic figure skating team 
and how it affected him so much 
they're all going to slay on the ice 
! But what really got me is how his parents' deaths motivated him even more to chase his dreams 
can't wait for the competition to start!