In a poignant and emotional moment for American sport, figure skater Maxim Naumov has been selected for the United States Winter Olympic team, achieving a dream he shared with his late parents just over a year after their tragic deaths.
A Dream Forged in Family and Tragedy
US Figure Skating confirmed its 16-strong squad for the Milan-Cortina Games in Italy next month, with Naumov's inclusion representing the culmination of a deeply personal journey. His parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were the 1994 world champion pairs skaters who later coached at the Skating Club of Boston.
Tragically, in January of last year, they were among 28 people connected to figure skating who died when their private plane collided with a military helicopter near Washington DC. The group was returning from Wichita, Kansas, the host city for the 2025 US championships.
"I would not be sitting here without the unimaginable work effort and love from my parents," Naumov stated emotionally on Sunday after the team announcement. "It means absolutely everything to me, fulfilling the dream that we collectively had as a family since I first was on the ice at five years old. I know they’re looking down, smiling and proud."
Team USA's Star-Studded Lineup for Milan-Cortina
Naumov will compete in the men's singles event alongside the reigning world champion and new national titleholder, Ilia Malinin. Malinin, who just secured his fourth consecutive US championship, is widely tipped as the favourite to win gold and continue America's success in the discipline following Nathan Chen's triumph.
"I’m just so excited for the Olympic spirit, the Olympic environment," Malinin said. "Hopefully go for that Olympic gold." The men's team is completed by Andrew Torgashev.
In ice dance, the record-breaking duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates, fresh from winning a historic seventh US title, lead the American charge. They are joined by US silver medalists Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, and the team of Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko. Carreira, born in Canada, only gained eligibility in November when her American citizenship was approved.
Notable Comebacks and Heartbreaking Omissions
The women's team features a remarkable comeback story in Alysa Liu. The 2022 world champion briefly retired after the Beijing Games due to burnout but has returned stronger than ever. She will be joined by first-time Olympian Amber Glenn, the recent national champion, and former world silver medalist Isabeau Levito.
"This was my goal and my dream and it just feels so special that it came true," said Levito, whose mother is originally from Milan.
However, the selection process brought disappointment for the top American pairs team, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov. Despite concerted efforts by their training base, the Skating Club of Boston, and support from US senators, Finnish-born Efimova did not receive her US citizenship in time for the selection deadline. The two pairs spots instead went to Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, and Emily Chan and Spencer Howe.
Reflecting on the difficult selection decisions, US Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell acknowledged the human element involved. "The importance and magnitude of selecting an Olympic team is one of the most important milestones in an athlete’s life," he said. "Sometimes these aren’t easy, and this is not the fun part."
As Team USA prepares for Italy, the narrative of Maxim Naumov—honouring his Olympian parents' legacy through triumph over profound loss—will be one of the most powerful stories of the Games.
