U.S. Olympian Maxim Naumov made his Olympic debut at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, his emotional story fueling his competitive fire. The 24-year-old American spent the past year dreaming of an Olympic medal while privately grieving, trying to focus on the mammoth task ahead of him.
In a recent interview, Naumov offered a clear view of the pressures figure skaters face off the ice and the ways he sought stability when his entire life changed.
Maxim Naumov Explained How He Overcame the Moment That Froze His Life
In a recent interview, Naumov talked about how grief left him stunned following his family’s loss:
“I had those moments where I just froze. I didn’t know what to do. I said, ‘Hey, this is such a crucial and pivotal moment in my life. If at this moment I don’t take on the responsibility, then I’ll look back forever on this moment at my most vulnerable, at the most intense, and know that I did not step up.'”
He said his ambitions changed his life because they forced him to choose action over grief, even when normal tasks felt heavy. Naumov explained that his sport became something that kept him sane, and he respected what his parents built with him to help him keep moving forward in his career.
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During tournaments, he carried a grainy photograph of the first time he stepped on ice with him to the kiss-and-cry. “I wanted them to be in the kiss and cry with me, to literally share that moment with me, cuz they deserve it. They deserve to be there right next to me.”
Naumov said he tries to honor his parents whenever he gets the moment, because he feels they are the ones who shaped his career. “Taking that photo with me wherever I go. If I can get an opportunity to share their legacy and what they mean to me and what they’ve done for me, I’m going to take every opportunity to do so.”
How Did Naumov Lose His Parents and His 2026 Winter Games Success
Naumov is the son of former pairs world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who competed at the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics, representing Russia.
On January 29, 2025, both Olympians were killed when American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while the jet was on approach to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The crash killed 67 people, and reports stated that 28 victims were tied to the figure skating community and were returning from a development camp in Kansas, following the 2025 U.S. Championships.
Naumov had been in Wichita for nationals the same year, where he finished fourth for a third straight year, but came earlier while his parents decided to stay.
The Skating Club of Boston lost six members in the accident, where the Russian pair coached, deepening the grief across the sport. Naumov continues to train there, helping carry forward the youth program his parents founded.
In January 2026, he finished third at the U.S. Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, and was named to the U.S. Olympic team alongside Ilia Malinin and Andrew Torgashev for the Milan Cortina Games.
He posted a qualifying score of 85.65 in the men’s program, a result that had most of the Milano Figure Skating Arena standing and applauding. His teammate, Torgashev, finished with a score of 88.94, while Malinin had a score of 108.16, putting him on the gold medal contenders list.
