Two Russian figure skating coaches, a married couple, tragically lost their lives in the American Airlines crash. Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former world champions and two-time Olympians in pairs skating, were on board the ill-fated flight. The couple's son, Maxim Naumov, who finished fourth at the recent U.S. national championships, was not with them.
Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, had a successful coaching career in New England after their competitive skating days. They were in Wichita for a development camp following their son's competition when the crash occurred.
The American Airlines jet collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, claiming the lives of all 60 passengers and four crew members on the flight, as well as three soldiers on the helicopter. The tragic incident left no survivors.
The Skating Club of Boston, where the couple coached, confirmed their deaths. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed condolences for the loss of the Russian citizens on board.
Shishkova and Naumov, who started skating together in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, won a world championship gold medal in 1994. They had a significant impact on figure skating in the U.S. after moving there post the Soviet Union's collapse.
The couple's coaching expertise was evident in their son, Maxim, who won the U.S. junior men's title in 2020. He was set to compete at upcoming championships as part of the U.S. team.
The Russian Figure Skating Federation also expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, acknowledging the loss of talented athletes and coaches in the air disaster. The federation extended condolences to the families and friends of the victims, recognizing the significant contributions made by the deceased coaches to Russian figure skating.
