Skater Honors Parents After Tragedy In Emotional Olympic Moment

Team USA’s Maxim Naumov, 24, didn’t just skate in his Olympic debut on Tuesday, he skated for two others. It was an incredibly emotional moment for the figure skater who has been carrying a heartbreaking burden since last year, when his parents p@ssed away. Maxim l0st his mother, Evgenia Shishkova, and father, Vadim Naumov, in a tragic mid-air collis!on over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.

The figure skating world was watching as Maxim took to the ice in the men’s short program, performing a powerful routine to Chopin’s “Nocturne No. 20.” As he finished and moved to the “kiss and cry” area to await his scores, the now-familiar ritual began. He carefully placed a photograph of his parents on the barrier.

The picture, which has accompanied him to every major competition this year, shows a young Maxim on the ice holding hands with his l0st parents. Vadim and Evgenia were legends in their own right, Russian world champions in pairs back in 1994. They were among the dozens of community members aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 during the devastating incident.

When the score of 85.65, a season-best, flashed up, Maxim looked directly at the photograph, his eyes visibly welling up. “We did it,” the Olympian said softly, directing the simple, powerful statement to his mom and dad.

Fans watching the Milan Cortina Games were instantly in tears, taking to social media to share their feelings. The reaction was swift, with one commenter writing, “I’m sobbing. That score was more than just points, it was love and determination.”

As Maxim waved to the crowd, the final tribute appeared. The video board at the Milano Ice Skating Arena displayed a message alongside his picture that truly said it all, a loving dedication from a son to his heroes: “Mom and Dad, this is for you.” 

Skater Honors Parents After Tragedy in Emotional Olympic Moment

In a heart-wrenching moment at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Team USA’s Maxim Naumov, 24, poured his heart onto the ice, carrying the weight of a profound personal loss. It wasn’t just another Olympic debut for the figure skater—this was an emotionally charged performance, one that transcended the competition and became a tribute to two people who meant the world to him. Maxim had lost both of his parents, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, in a tragic accident that shook him to his core.

In a devastating twist of fate, Maxim’s mother and father were among the 54 victims aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which crashed into the Potomac River last year. His parents, both Russian world champions in figure skating from 1994, had been legends in their own right, guiding Maxim’s love for the sport and shaping his career. Now, they were gone, leaving him with an emptiness that words could hardly describe.

But on that fateful day in Milan, Maxim took to the ice, not just for himself, but for his beloved parents. He skated his heart out in the men’s short program, performing a stunning routine set to Chopin’s “Nocturne No. 20.” The artistry of his movement, paired with the raw emotion of the music, seemed to channel the love and memories of his parents. Every movement carried their presence, a final homage to the two people who had shaped his life and his skating.

When Maxim finished his routine and made his way to the “kiss and cry” area, a place where skaters traditionally await their scores, he did something extraordinary. He carefully placed a photograph of his parents on the barrier, a poignant act that made the moment all the more intimate and emotional. The photo—one that had accompanied him throughout every major competition this season—captured a young Maxim, still a child, holding hands with his parents on the ice. It was a memory frozen in time, a reflection of the deep bond that would forever remain in his heart.

As the score of 85.65 flashed across the screen, a season-best, Maxim’s gaze never left the photograph. His eyes, full of emotion, glistened as he whispered, “We did it,” directing the words toward his parents. It wasn’t just about the score—it was a triumph over grief, a testament to the power of love, determination, and the unbreakable bond between a son and his parents.

The spectators in the arena were visibly moved, and soon, social media erupted with tributes. Fans from all corners of the world shared their heartfelt reactions, many in tears. One emotional commenter wrote, “I’m sobbing. That score was more than just points; it was love and determination.” It was clear that this moment had resonated with far more than just figure skating fans; it had touched the hearts of everyone who had ever known loss.

As the performance concluded, and Maxim stood before the crowd, a final tribute appeared on the video board. The message, a loving dedication from son to parents, read: “Mom and Dad, this is for you.” It was the perfect encapsulation of the love Maxim held for his parents, a love that transcended life and death, and it was a moment that would stay with everyone who witnessed it.

Maxim Naumov’s performance in Milan will forever be remembered as a poignant testament to the strength of the human spirit and the unyielding love of a son for his parents. His parents may have been lost, but their legacy lived on through their son’s triumph, both on and off the ice.