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Wichita Today
By the People, for the People
Simsbury's Maxim Naumov completes Olympic dream after family tragedy
The 24-year-old American figure skater finished his Winter Games debut with an emotional free skate, just over a year after losing his parents in a plane crash.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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Maxim Naumov, a 24-year-old American figure skater from Simsbury, Connecticut, completed his Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. Naumov's free skate performance was emotional, as it came just over a year after he lost his parents, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, in a tragic plane crash. While his program was not perfect, with falls on quad salchows, the crowd gave him a standing ovation, including actor Jeff Goldblum. Naumov said he felt proud of his journey to get to this point, despite the difficulties he faced this past year after the loss of his parents, who were former world pairs champions and his skating coaches.
Why it matters
Naumov's story highlights the resilience and perseverance of an athlete who has overcome immense personal tragedy to fulfill his Olympic dream, which he had shared with his late parents. His journey serves as an inspiration, showing how sports can provide purpose and a path forward even in the darkest of times.
The details
Naumov finished fourth at the U.S. National Championships in January 2026 before returning home to the Boston area, while his parents stayed behind to participate in a youth development camp. Tragically, Naumov's parents were among the 67 people killed when the plane they were on crashed into a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport. In the aftermath, Naumov struggled with even basic daily tasks, but ultimately found purpose in continuing to skate and making it to the Olympics, a dream he had shared with his parents.
- Naumov finished fourth at the U.S. National Championships in Wichita, Kansas in January 2026.
- Naumov's parents, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were killed in a plane crash on approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport in February 2025.
The players
Maxim Naumov
A 24-year-old American figure skater from Simsbury, Connecticut who made his Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina.
Evgenia Shishkova
Maxim Naumov's mother, who was a former world pairs champion and his skating coach.
Vadim Naumov
Maxim Naumov's father, who was a former world pairs champion and his skating coach.
What they’re saying
“To be honest, I just feel proud. I feel proud of the journey that it took to get to this point. That is what I look toward right now. What it took to get here has been indescribable, inwards, getting up every day when I didn't want to and pushing through the difficult times and the uncertainty of it all. I'm able to have some perspective on that. And I've had a lot of perspective in lots of areas in my life this year and skating is no different.”
— Maxim Naumov, American figure skater
The takeaway
Naumov's story is a testament to the power of resilience and perseverance in the face of unimaginable tragedy. His ability to find purpose and continue pursuing his Olympic dream, even after losing his parents, is truly inspiring and serves as an example of the strength of the human spirit.
