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Ice skater Maxim Naumov sobs after performing tribute to parents killed in Washington plane crash

Heartbreaking video has emerged of a figure skater breaking down after performing a tribute to his parents who were killed in the American Airlines tragedy in Washington DC.

Ice skater sobs after tribute to parents lost in DC plane crash

The figure skating son of the former world champions and coaches who were killed in the American Airlines tragedy in Washington, DC, broke down sobbing after an emotional performance for his late parents.

Maxim Naumov, 23, took to the ice for the grief-stricken performance at a charity event in DC on Sunday in honour of his parents — Evgenia “Zhenya” Shishkova and Vadim Naumov — and the dozens of other figure skating community members on-board the doomed flight.

Heartbreaking video showed the skater weeping on his knees in the middle of the ice just moments after he finished his routine.

He was then filmed wiping away tears as he skated off the ice clutching a candle.

Max Naumov reacts after skating during the Legacy On Ice US Figure Skating Benefit at Capital One Arena in Washington DC. Picture: Getty
Max Naumov reacts after skating during the Legacy On Ice US Figure Skating Benefit at Capital One Arena in Washington DC. Picture: Getty
Naumov’s parents were champion figure skaters. Picture: Getty
Naumov’s parents were champion figure skaters. Picture: Getty

His Russian-born parents had been flying back from a US Figure Skating competition and training camp on January 29 when the AA plane collided with an Army helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River — killing all 67 people on-board.

Maxim had competed at the national event, where he placed fourth, but flew back home several days before his parents.

Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were killed when an army helicopter collided with their American Airlines plane. Picture: Supplied
Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were killed when an army helicopter collided with their American Airlines plane. Picture: Supplied
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov won the World Figure Skating Championship finals in pairs in 1994. Picture: AFP
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov won the World Figure Skating Championship finals in pairs in 1994. Picture: AFP

His parents, who had been coaches with the Skating Club of Boston when they were killed, won the pairs title at the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships.

Maxim was joined at the Legacy on Ice benefit event by a star-studded group of some of the best American figure skaters — including national champion Amber Glenn, two-time Olympian Johnny Weir and reigning men’s world champion Ilia Malinin.

Naumov broke down after performing a tribute to his parents. Picture: Getty
Naumov broke down after performing a tribute to his parents. Picture: Getty
Naumov performs at the Legacy On Ice US Figure Skating Benefit Washington DC. Picture: Getty
Naumov performs at the Legacy On Ice US Figure Skating Benefit Washington DC. Picture: Getty

Glenn, too, broke down when she finished skating.

“We’re all here to support one another, whether it was our friends that were on that plane, family members, coaches, teammates, loved ones,” 2014 Olympic team bronze medallist Jason Brown said.

“We all travel for this sport. We get to do what we love. And travel is such a huge part of what we do, so it all hit us really hard because this is just such an integral part of what we do, as well as those are people that we’re closest to.”

This story was originally published in The New York Post

Originally published as Ice skater Maxim Naumov sobs after performing tribute to parents killed in Washington plane crash

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/world/ice-skater-maxim-naumov-sobs-after-performing-tribute-to-parents-killed-in-washington-plane-crash/news-story/5f8c0bb507b72b259e8c186b775c40bd