Figure Skater Who Lost Both Parents In DC Plane Crash In Tears After Making Olympic Team

Beyond their talent, athletes have to be incredibly strong-willed, motivated, and filled to the brim with grit if they're going to make it to the Olympics to represent their sport and their country.

But figure skater Maxim Naumov demonstrated some next-level determination, stamina, and commitment to skating when he continued to pursue his dream of performing on the U.S. Olympic Team, despite both of his parents dying in a tragic plane crash in January 2025.

Naumov's parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were world champions in pairs figure skating in 1994 for Russia, and they went on to become coaches at the Skating Club of Boston, professionally training fresh skaters, and instilling in their son the same love and drive for the sport as they had as a couple.

On their way home from the 2025 U.S. championships in Wichita, Kansas, Naumov and Shishkova's plane was involved in a mid-air collision over D.C., killing a total of 67 people between the American Airlines flight and a United States Army Black Hawk helicopter.

In his grief, Naumov tuned into what he had been trained: working through the stress.

"I have been trained from [a child] to keep cool or to stay focused on a certain task under extreme duress, extreme stress."

"That is what I've been doing for years. I've been practicing, I've done it, and I know what that's like."

"So even when something like this happened, such a difficult, emotional experience, my immediate reaction made me lock down and just make sure to do what I'm supposed to do still."

"When you're an athlete, this is you."

All of Naumov's hard work and dedication has paid off, as he is the next figure skater to join the U.S. team ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

After his final skate prior to being accepted on the team, Naumov appeared emotional as the scores were announced. While listening, he was holding a photograph of his parents and him when he was very young, angling it up toward the scoreboard.

Days later, his success was made official as Naumov was invited onto the ice to accept his U.S. Olympic team jacket and hat.

In another video, Naumov stood with several members of his family as the broadcaster announced:

"Dreams really do come true."

Fans of Maxim Naumov were overcome with emotion.

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Emotions were running high all across the internet for Naumov.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

The Winter Olympics are set for February 6 through February 22, 2026.

There's no telling how the figure skating competition will play out, but one thing is certain: Maxim Naumov has already made his parents proud.