The crash, which occurred in close proximity to Washington D.C., has left a significant impact on the figure skating world.
Two Russian Ice Skating Champions Killed in Plane Crash
Two Russian Ice Skating Champions Killed in Plane Crash
Tragic incident takes the lives of Yevgeniya Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, beloved coaches in the skating community.
On January 29, 2025, tragedy struck the skating community as an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter and subsequently crashed into the Potomac River. Among those lost were Yevgeniya Shishkova, 52, and Vadim Naumov, 55, two acclaimed ice skating champions who dedicated their lives to coaching in the United States.
A social media post from the Skating Club of Boston confirmed the couple’s presence on the flight, which was reportedly carrying athletes and coaches returning from the U.S. Figure Skating national championships in Wichita, Kansas. The crash resulted in the deaths of everyone onboard, including a total of 14 skaters returning from the event, with six associated with the Skating Club of Boston, including the beloved coach duo and two teenage participants along with their mothers.
Shishkova and Naumov, who were married in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1995, rose to stardom while competing for their home country. Their illustrious career included winning the gold medal in pair skating at the 1994 World Championships in Japan and competing in both the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. After retiring from competitive skating in 1998, they moved to the U.S. amid the backdrop of Russia’s economic struggles post-Soviet Union and settled in Simsbury, Connecticut, where they became influential coaches, most recently at the Skating Club of Boston.
The impact of their loss is felt deeply within the community, with many reflecting on the couple’s positive influence on aspiring skaters. Despite the challenges of coaching, Naumov once shared that he aimed to cultivate an environment where students “have fun while working hard.” The couple remained integral to the development of the competitive skating program in Boston since their arrival in 2017.
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the crash, the figure skating world mourns the loss of these talented champions whose legacy will endure in the hearts of many athletes they inspired.
A social media post from the Skating Club of Boston confirmed the couple’s presence on the flight, which was reportedly carrying athletes and coaches returning from the U.S. Figure Skating national championships in Wichita, Kansas. The crash resulted in the deaths of everyone onboard, including a total of 14 skaters returning from the event, with six associated with the Skating Club of Boston, including the beloved coach duo and two teenage participants along with their mothers.
Shishkova and Naumov, who were married in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1995, rose to stardom while competing for their home country. Their illustrious career included winning the gold medal in pair skating at the 1994 World Championships in Japan and competing in both the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. After retiring from competitive skating in 1998, they moved to the U.S. amid the backdrop of Russia’s economic struggles post-Soviet Union and settled in Simsbury, Connecticut, where they became influential coaches, most recently at the Skating Club of Boston.
The impact of their loss is felt deeply within the community, with many reflecting on the couple’s positive influence on aspiring skaters. Despite the challenges of coaching, Naumov once shared that he aimed to cultivate an environment where students “have fun while working hard.” The couple remained integral to the development of the competitive skating program in Boston since their arrival in 2017.
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the crash, the figure skating world mourns the loss of these talented champions whose legacy will endure in the hearts of many athletes they inspired.
