Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, pictured on the 1995 World Determine Skating Championships in England. Russian authorities confirmed they had been on board the American Eagle flight that crashed after a collision close to Washington, D.C.
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Chris Cole/Getty Pictures
Elite determine skaters on the best way again from a coaching camp had been among the many passengers of the airplane that crashed after colliding with a navy helicopter close to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night time.
U.S. Determine Skating confirmed to NPR that “several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342.” The flight departed from Wichita, which had hosted a number of high-profile skating occasions in latest days.
“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” it added.
The 2025 Prevagen Determine Skating Championships — a ultimate qualifier for the U.S. World and Junior Championship groups — ran from Jan. 20 by way of Jan. 26.
It was instantly adopted by the Nationwide Growth Camp, which the governing physique describes as a three-day academic program for top-performing juvenile, intermediate and novice athletes that goals to “accelerate their exposure to High Performance Programs and Team USA.”
A number of American determine skaters have supplied their prayers and condolences within the wake of the tragedy, together with defending world champion Ilia Malinin, who gained his third consecutive nationwide title in Wichita on Sunday.
“Praying that everyone is ok,” Malinin wrote on his Instagram story.
Authorities stated Thursday morning that they don’t imagine anybody survived the crash. It’s not clear how lots of the airplane’s 60 passengers got here from the skating group.
Thomas Bach, president of the Worldwide Olympic Committee, stated in an announcement that some on board might have been Olympians.
“On behalf of the IOC, and personally, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected, which we understand may include Olympians, young athletes, and their support staff,” he stated. “Our thoughts are with all the victims, their families and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
The Kremlin stated Thursday that Russian determine skaters had been on the flight as effectively.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to reporters that Russian World Champions — and husband and spouse — Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova had been on board.
“Yes, we see that the sad news is true. And there were other of our citizens,” stated Peskov, whose spouse is a champion determine skater herself. “It’s bad news out of Washington.”
Naumov and Shishkova had been on each the Soviet and Russian determine skating groups and gained the World Championships in pairs determine skating in 1994.
They moved to the U.S. in 1998 and seem to have stayed concerned within the sport: They’re each listed as coaches on the Skating Membership of Boston web site.
