DC aircraft crash: Figure skater Maxim Naumov makes emotional return to ice after shedding mother and father | EUROtoday

Maxim Naumov, a determine skater who misplaced each his mother and father in a tragic aircraft crash in January, has supplied a poignant tribute to them throughout a efficiency on the world championship gala.

Former world pairs champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova have been among the many 67 folks killed when their aircraft crashed right into a navy helicopter close to Washington, D.C.

Following his efficiency, Naumov got here to a cease on the ice, regarded up and patted his coronary heart.

“This is for you guys,” he stated, addressing his mother and father in Russian. “You guys are with me. I love you both.”

Since the crash, Naumov has develop into an emblem of the tragedy’s affect on the skating neighborhood and has informed reporters of his gratitude for the overwhelming help he has obtained.

“I don’t think I’ve walked through a hallway and haven’t given a hug since. And I feel that support and love,” he stated.

“It’s been beyond anything that I could have ever even imagined. And it helps so much to get through this day.”

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Naumov, who earlier participated in a profit in Washington that raised over $1.2 million for the victims’ households, shared that being on the ice offers him with a brief escape from the tragedy.

“As soon as I hit the ice, my brain just — I don’t know whether it’s focus or just calmness or stillness or what, but it feels like I tune everything out,” he stated.

“And I’m just talking with them, and they’re helping me.

“I don’t hear the crowd. I don’t hear the announcers, I don’t hear anything. I just have this internal dialogue and I’m just able to almost be calm and just be in my heart.

“And they’re always there, too. And every time I think of them, especially when I’m on the ice, it really, really helps me get through.”

The world championships, which had beforehand been scheduled on the house of Boston’s Celtics and Bruins, introduced renewed consideration to the aircraft crash and the century-old Skating Club of Boston that has been a house for Olympians and leisure skaters alike.

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There was a tribute on Wednesday, sandwiched between the day’s two classes, and frequent reminders of the tragedy.

Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, who completed sixth in pairs on the weekend, held up footage of the Boston membership members who died within the crash: two younger skaters, their moms and the 2 coaches. Reigning US champion Amber Glenn wore a T-shirt honoring the reminiscence of all of the younger skaters who have been misplaced.

Ilia Malinin, the “Quad God” who received his second straight world championship on Saturday evening, completed the present on Sunday with a efficiency that he stated was devoted to the aircraft crash victims. He got here to the top, red-eyed and choking again tears.

Naumov’s introduction on Sunday recognized him as a member of the Boston membership and included his three fourth-place finishes at nationals. It didn’t point out the crash, however many within the crowd absolutely knew his connection: He obtained not solely the well mannered applause that greeted many of the different skaters, however a second wave, with people standing to cheer him on.

Wearing unadorned black pants and a glittery black prime, a gold chain flopping round his neck as he glided throughout the ice, Naumov gave a gala efficiency aimed extra at emotion than proof of athletic prowess.

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The selection of music, Mac Miller’s posthumous 2020 launch “That’s on Me,” was intentional. Miller died of an unintentional drug overdose in 2018.

“Lately, for some reason — well, not for some reason — but lately I’ve just been listening to Mac Miller’s album Circles. Like just over and over and over,” Naumov stated. “And knowing the unfortunate story about him as an artist, it’s been very relatable.

“I relate to it, and I feel really deeply and emotionally what he’s talking about in those songs. And it’s also been really helpful for me to almost get my emotions out in that way personally.”

When his skate was over, Naumov took a deep breath, patted his coronary heart and waved in every course. His bows have been deep and poignant. Leaving the ice after a one-minute standing ovation, he made the signal of the cross.

“There’s a lot of emotions just right now, and it’s hard to even put a name to what I’m feeling currently,” he said. “I just feel so much support, and it’s very overwhelming.

“I have so much gratitude,” Naumov said.

“And I’m thankful for each and every single one of those fans.”