Maxim Naumov, the son of 1994 World Figure Skating champions Evgenia “Zhenya” Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, broke down after his performance at a figure skating as he honoured his parents who lost their lives in the American Airlines plane crash in January.
On Sunday, the 23-year-old gave an emotional tribute to his parents’ favourite song, The City That Doesn’t Exist. Sharing the video, an X user Collin Rugg wrote, “Ice skater who lost both his parents in the DC plane crash breaks down in tears after an emotional tribute. 23-year-old Maxim Naumov honored his parents by skating to their favorite song, ‘The City That Doesn’t Exist.’”
Maxim selected the song because it reminded him of how his parents would “jump up and slow dance together” whenever they heard it. The viral video shows Maxim overcome with emotion and in tears after the performance during the Legacy on Ice event.
Watch here:
NEW: Ice skater who lost both his parents in the DC plane crash breaks down in tears after an emotional tribute.
23-year-old Maxim Naumov honored his parents by skating to their favorite song, ‘The City That Doesn’t Exist.’
Naumov said whenever his parents heard the song, they… pic.twitter.com/tVq4G0SsZs
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 3, 2025
With over 3,68,000 views, the video left several social media users emotional. “My heart aches for this young man. Imagine losing both your parents in such a horrific senseless accident. He probably is also experiencing survivors guilt because he flew home before them,” a user wrote. “A brutal reminder that life can change in an instant. This young man turned his pain into strength, honoring his parents the way a true warrior does,” another user commented.
“A breathtakingly beautiful tribute to his parents. May God continue to surround him in strength and comfort,” a third user reacted.
The figure skating show was held in Washington DC to remember and raise money for the victims of the midair collision outside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The plane crash on January 29 killed at least 67 people, with several skaters on board the commercial plane when it collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. Naumov’s parents and several other skaters were returning to Washington, DC, after attending the US Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas.
According to PEOPLE Magazine, Naumov was also in Wichita where he finished fourth in the senior men’s competition at the US National Championships on January 26, just days before he lost his parents.
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