In Milan, a 24-year-old American skater named Maxim Naumov took to the ice on Tuesday in the men’s short program competition of the 2026 Winter Games. Accompanied by his parents’ loving memories etched into his heart and Team USA jacket, he gave one of the strongest performances of his career.
Naumov didn’t just skate; he wove a tapestry of dreams, resilience, and familial love onto that rink at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Moments before he took to the ice, a message appeared on the giant screen above him: “Mom and Dad, this is for you.” His parents were former Olympic pairs skaters who tragically lost their lives in a mid-air collision over the Potomac River last year.
The crowd erupted with applause as Naumov delivered one of his most powerful performances yet. Afterward, he dropped to his knees, looking up at the heavens where his mother and father would have been watching him soar. He reached into his Team USA jacket and pulled out a photo—of himself as a small boy on an ice rink with both parents standing next to him.
“I didn’t know if I was going to cry or laugh,” Naumov said, “but all I could do was look up at them. It’s surreal.”
The tragic loss of his parents had left an indelible mark upon the young skater and their tight-knit community. The Skating Club of Boston, which lost several members in that fateful day, provided support as he moved forward.
Susan Hamel-Bottari, a coach at the Skating Club of Boston and a close friend to the Naumov family, recalled the shock and pain following the accident. “I didn’t know how to respond,” she said. She added later: “Every day, he showed up to the rink. He was mentally tough; he’s a fighter.”
Naumov’s recovery came in layers of support from both his personal life and professional work. In addition to competing for Team USA, he continued teaching in Tomorrow’s Champions, a development program at the Skating Club of Boston that trains young skaters. Hamel-Bottari spoke about how the program’s youngsters deeply admired him and appreciated his positive outlook.
For some of those students, their own support was provided from afar. One of them traveled to Milan just to see Naumov perform; many others cheered for him from home.
Hamel-Bottari described her emotional response: “To see him out there and know what we went through—it’s hard to describe the tears that come with watching someone so full of spirit and joy.”
For Naumov, this performance marked his Olympic debut—a chance not just to compete but to share the love he had for both himself and his parents. He emphasized focusing on giving everything he had rather than worrying about scores or standings.
As Naumov skated toward the future, many saw a reflection of their own struggles and resilience in him. While his journey was unique, his story resonated with the broader experience of overcoming grief to continue pursuing one’s passion. His performance at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Tuesday served not only as an Olympic achievement but also as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of those he loved most.