Maxim Naumov’s story is one of resilience, heartbreak, and unwavering determination. As the 24-year-old figure skater from Simsbury, Connecticut, laces up his skates at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, he carries not only the hopes of his hometown but also the weight of a profoundly personal loss. The championships, which began on January 8, 2026, are more than just another competition for Naumov—they are a tribute to his late parents and coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, whose legacy on the ice and in their son’s heart endures.
For those who have watched Maxim grow up at the International Skating Center of Connecticut, his journey is nothing short of remarkable. He is the only child of Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the celebrated Russian pairs team who competed at the 1994 Olympics and captured that year’s World Championship. Their journey brought them to Connecticut, where they became pillars of the local skating community, mentoring young athletes and eventually guiding their own son to national prominence.
Max’s rise in American figure skating began early. At just 17, he captured the U.S. novice championship in 2017, and by 2020 he had clinched the U.S. junior crown under his father’s coaching. The family’s move to Norwood, Massachusetts, in 2017 marked a new chapter, as they joined the storied Skating Club of Boston and launched the "Tomorrow’s Champions" youth program. Maxim was both a product and a steward of that legacy, later taking over the program after tragedy struck.
That tragedy came nearly a year ago, on January 29, 2025, when American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The crash claimed the lives of all aboard, including Maxim’s parents and 28 members of the U.S. figure skating community. Maxim, who had just finished competing at the 2025 U.S. Championships in Wichita, withdrew from the Four Continents Championships as he grappled with unfathomable grief.
For months, it was uncertain whether Naumov would ever return to competitive skating. He found solace and purpose in commemorative performances, including the "Legacy on Ice" show in Washington, D.C., and an exhibition at the 2025 World Championships in Boston. On both occasions, he honored his parents with poignant routines, skating to their favorite music and sharing the ice with fellow Olympic champions.
When Maxim decided to return to competition, he turned to Vladimir Petrenko, a close family friend and the brother of Olympic champion Victor Petrenko, to guide him as coach. Vladimir described the emotional undercurrent that runs through their sessions: "Every time Max and I step onto the ice, there is always a quiet emotional layer under the training process. On the surface, we are focused, working, analyzing techniques, pushing toward goals. But somewhere deeper there is always a feeling that they are with us. Sometimes it is a memory, sometimes a moment of reflection, sometimes simply a feeling of calm presence."
The 2025-26 season has been a test of Naumov’s resilience. He opened with a ninth-place finish at the CS Lombardia Trophy in Italy in September, matched that result at the Grand Prix de France in October, and then surged to a gold medal at the Ice Challenge in Austria in November. Each skate, each program, has been a step forward—both in healing and in pursuit of a lifelong dream.
That dream is now tantalizingly close. The U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis are the final hurdle before the announcement of the U.S. Olympic team for Milano Cortina 2026. The men’s short program on January 8, 2026, was a particularly emotional moment for Maxim. Skating with a photo of himself at age three—flanked by his parents—he delivered a performance that captivated the audience and left him in fourth place heading into the free skate.
"You know, it's just all about resilience. It's all about being resilient. That's the feeling and the mentality that I've clung onto this entire season," Naumov told reporters after his short program. "And I find that in times of really difficult emotional stress, if you can just push yourself a little bit more, almost think, 'What if? What if I can do it? What if—despite everything that happened to me—I can still go out there and do it?' That's where you find strength. And that's when you grow as a person. And that is exactly what's been getting me through every day."
Naumov’s performance was more than a technical display—it was an act of remembrance and hope. "I was thinking about them," he said, referring to his parents. "Their smile, their laugh, what they’d say to me, their words; it all replays in my head, especially in times like this, and I… love ‘em."
The competition in St. Louis is fierce, with reigning champions like Ilia Malinin expected to secure one of the three coveted Olympic spots. Yet, U.S. Figure Skating considers a full year’s worth of performances, not just the results of a single weekend. For Maxim, every skate has been a testament to the values and spirit his parents instilled in him.
Support for Naumov extends far beyond the rink. Holly Viall, a longtime coach at the Simsbury rink, expressed the pride of an entire community: "We're so proud of him. So proud of him to be able to put both feet on the floor and try his hardest to get through life." Daniel Petrenko, the ISCC’s Director of Figure Skating and a lifelong friend, added, "We obviously hope he makes the Olympics and skates his heart out. Regardless, everyone's going to be rooting for him."
As Maxim prepares for the men’s free skate on January 10, 2026, the stakes could hardly be higher. A spot on Team USA for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics is within reach—a goal he shared with his parents in one of their last conversations. "It’s the ultimate goal. It's what my parents and I, one of our last conversations was exactly about that. And it would mean the absolute world to me to do so. That's exactly what we're fighting for. It's what we wake up for, it's what we go to bed for, every single day. That’s what I think about first thing in the morning and when I shut my eyes."
The final Olympic roster will be announced on January 11, 2026. For now, Maxim Naumov continues to skate with the heart of a champion, honoring the past while chasing a future that would make his parents proud. The next chapter of his journey will unfold on the ice in St. Louis, as fans across the nation watch and hope with him.