Heartbreak as US skating icon’s worst fears realised
An American legend has been brought to tears when revealing her devastating personal connection to the Washington plane crash tragedy.
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Figure skating legend Nancy Kerrigan broke down in tears over the talented local skaters whose lives were lost in the tragic collision of an American Airlines plane and a US military Blackhawk (H-60) helicopter in Washington, DC.
American Eagle Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into the Potomac River, with President Donald Trump announcing on Friday (AEDT) there were no survivors.
“We’ve been through tragedies before as Americans, as people, and we’re strong. I guess it’s how we respond to it and my response is to be with people I care about,” Kerrigan said through tears during a news conference at the Skating Club of Boston on Thursday.
Six of the US Figure Skating members killed in the fiery collision Wednesday night were affiliated with the club, according to executive director Doug Zeghibe.
“I needed support, so that’s why I’m here,” an emotional Kerrigan, who won Olympic bronze in 1992 and silver in 1994, told reporters.
“I think it’s a shock,” she said, later adding, “And then when you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it’s … even a bigger blow.”
Kerrigan was the victim of one of the biggest scandals in sporting history.
Just weeks before the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, the figure-skating darling was whacked on the knee by an unknown assailant wielding a club — an attack later revealed to have been plotted by the husband of Kerrigan’s rival, Tonya Harding.
The incident was portrayed in the 2018 film I, Tonya, featuring Australian Margot Robbie.
Kerrigan was on Friday joined at the Boston venue by 1956 gold medalist Tenley Albright, who said she couldn’t help but be reminded of a 1961 plane crash that left 18 members of the national team dead.
“There were really 22 of my friends on that plane in 1961 on their way to the world championships,” Albright said, according to the New York Post.
“And I remember years later, people looking at me very strangely. … ‘Weren’t you on that plane?’ And I wish the ones that were on that plane weren’t. And I don’t know how to handle this.”
Kerrigan, while wiping tears from her eyes, noted she’d been watching news coverage of the collision all night.
She then gave well wishes to the families going through the tragedy, noting she doesn’t know how people manage to stay so strong and courageous through tragedies like this.
“Each one of them are strong enough to get through this somehow. It will take time but look beside you, there’s somebody that cares and tell people around you that you love them,” she added.
Kerrigan then touched on the two coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were killed in the horrific crash.
“I never worked with them, I mean we were in the Olympics together but the night before I was kind of busy myself and sort of separated from what was going on, but I’ve seen them a lot of times over the years,” she said.
“Everything you’ve heard about them maybe being a little tough but with a smile on their faces.
“They were always welcoming and happy to see one another,” she said, wiping a tear. “To walk in here and not see that I think would be very strange for everybody that comes here. It’s going to be hard.”
Kerrigan noted they’d gathered at the skate club to be there for each other and for Zeghibe.
“To the best of our knowledge, 14 skaters returning home... were lost in the plane crash,” Zeghibe said.
He said the passengers were returning from US Figure Skating’s national development camp, conducted in Wichita following last week’s US Figure Skating Championships there.
“This camp is for young competitive stars of tomorrow with the most promise to be a champion of tomorrow,” Zeghibe said.
US Figure Skating, in a statement, confirmed only that “several members of our skating community” were on the plane after the camp.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.” The Skating Club of Boston said skaters Jinna Han, 13, and Spencer Lane, 16, their mothers Jin Han and Christine Lane and Naumov and Shishkova were aboard the plane that crashed into the icy Potomac.
“I’ve never seen anyone love skating as much as these two and that’s why I think it hurts so much,” Kerrigan said of Han and Lane.
“The kids care. They work really hard to be here. Their parents work hard. I feel for the skaters and their families but anyone who was on that plane, not just the skaters, because it’s just such a tragic event.” It also could be a lost generation of champion talent for US figure skating. “Our sport and this club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy,” Zeghibe said.
“Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family.
“We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.”
It came after American skating legends Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski also choked up on live TV speaking about the tragedy during the European Figure Skating Championships.
Lane, a rising star in the skating community, snapped a photo of the plane’s right wing moments before takeoff.
The post read, “ICT [to] DCA,” showing the airport codes for Wichita Eisenhower and Reagan National.
The regional American Airlines flight had been coming in to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when tragedy struck.
Russian state media has reported that 52-year-old Shishkova and 55-year-old Naumov, who were married and won the pairs figure skating world title in 1994, were on board the plane.
They had relocated to the United States in 1998 to move into coaching. Their son Maxim – who competed for Team USA in singles – was not on board.
Several coaches and parents of figure skaters were also on the flight from Wichita to Reagan National Airport, USA Figure Skating has confirmed.
“Praying for all those on the flight from Wichita to DC,” he wrote on X.
“Among the passengers were skaters and coaches. Absolutely heartbreaking.”
Wang and others had been notified by US Figure Skating via text message following the crash.
Team USA ice dancer Ethan Peal also tweeted: “I am in shock. Praying for families and my skating community.”
The US association had not immediately provided details on who or how many athletes or officials had been on board the flight.
The World Figure Skating Championships will be held in Boston in March.
– with the New York Post and AFP
Originally published as Heartbreak as US skating icon’s worst fears realised
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