american airlines 5342 olympics milan cortina.

Maxim Naumov skates during the "Making Team USA" performance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Maxim Naumov takes his dream to Olympics to honors his parents and those killed in airline crash

Maxim Naumov reflects on his journey to the Milan Cortina Olympics, carrying the memory of his parents, former world champion skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. They were among 67 people killed when American Airlines Flight 5342 crashed into a military helicopter on January 29, 2025. The tragedy a year ago deeply impacted the figure skating community. Naumov, who finished third at the U.S. championships, often finds solace in memories of his parents. He wears a gold chain and ring as reminders of them. Naumov hopes to inspire others by sharing his story and honoring his parents’ legacy.

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