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31.01.2025.

10:00

The skating world is in shock after the plane crash - Russians confirmed the death of two celebrated athletes

The skating world is in shock and grief after the plane crash with 64 passengers, including a pair of Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the 1994 world champions.

Izvor: B92.Sports

Autor: B92.sport

B92.sport
The skating world is in shock after the plane crash - Russians confirmed the death of two celebrated athletes
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"The International Skating Union (ISU) and the skating community as a whole are deeply shocked by the tragic crash of an American Airlines plane last night in Washington," the organization announced.

"We were heartbroken to learn that the figure skaters, along with their families, friends and coaches, were on the plane. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport – it's a family, and we remain united," continues the International Federation.

Russian agencies reported that former figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova (52) and Vadim Naumov (55) were on the plane. Fifth at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, fourth two years later in Lillehammer, Shishkova and Naumov were crowned world champions in March 1994.

Born in St. Petersburg, they got married in 1995, and distinguished themselves on the ice with the purity of their technique and extremely classic style of skating.

They ended their careers after failing to qualify for the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

After turning professional, they moved to the United States as coaches, first in Connecticut and then in Boston since 2017.

Their son Maxim, born in 2001, was the 2020 U.S. Junior Champion and recently placed fourth at the U.S. Senior Championship in Wichita, Kansas, where the plane that crashed after colliding with a military helicopter while landing in Washington took off. 

Among the passengers was Ina Volyanska, a former Soviet figure skater who moved to a coaching job in the USA, according to the TASS and Ria Novosti agencies.

According to information from the American press, there were also American figure skaters on the plane, but their identities have not yet been officially confirmed.

In Tallinn, Estonia, where the European Skating Championships are being held from Wednesday, a minute's silence was observed.

The winner of the short program in the men's category, French citizen Adam Siao Him Fa, two-time current European champion, dedicated his performance to the victims of the accident.

"I really wanted to skate with all my heart, for the victims, for their loved ones and for all their families," he said, adding:

"It was very hard to hear the news, especially since I knew some of them. We weren't necessarily close, but I knew them and it touched me."

A similar tragedy occurred in 1961, which decimated the US national team. The delegation was traveling to Prague, for the World Cup, and was supposed to land in Brussels, but the plane caught fire moments before landing. Eighteen skaters and 16 staff members and relatives of the skaters died. In total, 73 people died.

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