Maxim Naumov Pays Tribute to His Late Parents While Making the Olympic Figure Skating Team

ST. LOUIS — Maxim Naumov, a 24-year-old figure skater, is set to chase his Olympic dreams at the 2026 Winter Games, a journey he emphasizes as a collective effort rather than a solitary pursuit.

At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships held at Enterprise Center, Naumov donned a new white U.S. figure skating jacket, paying tribute to those who have supported him along the way, including his late parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, who tragically lost their lives in a plane crash last year.

“We did it,” Naumov exclaimed, a radiant smile illuminating his face. “We absolutely did it.” His selection for the U.S. Olympic team marked the realization of a dream that he and his family shared for over two decades.

Naumov’s emotional announcement arrived against the backdrop of what many are calling the strongest U.S. Olympic roster in decades. Among the 16 athletes designated for the team headed to Milan, three are reigning world champions. The U.S. team has a chance to win its highest medal count in figure skating since 1960, with the current record of five medals set in 1956.

On the women’s side, Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito all made their mark at the 2025 World Championships, securing spots in the top five. Liu stands out as the first U.S. women’s world champion since 2006, while Levito earned a silver medal in 2024. Glenn, a three-time U.S. champion, is also making her Olympic debut at the age of 26.

In the men’s singles category, Ilia Malinin is the frontrunner for gold in Milan, having won his fourth consecutive U.S. championship last Saturday. Malinin aims to follow in Nathan Chen’s footsteps, who dominated the competition in Beijing, with hopes of marking the first time since Scott Hamilton and Brian Boitano clinched back-to-back men’s golds in 1984 and 1988.

The selection process for the men’s team concluded with notable drama, particularly following a tense free skate competition. Andrew Torgashev, who earned a silver medal, was among the first to be announced during the gala event. His mother surprised him with a U.S. figure skating jacket after his performance.

After completing their exhibition routines, skaters were greeted by family members. Naumov received his jacket with a heartfelt gesture, clutching it to his chest while proudly displaying “USA” emblazoned on the back.

Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, who earned silver in the U.S. championships, will also make their Olympic debut. The national pairs champions, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, were ineligible for the Olympic team due to citizenship issues, paving the way for Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, who rose from eighth to fourth place, to secure the second pairs nomination.

The U.S. ice dance team will feature three-time world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who return to the Olympics hoping for their first personal medal as a pair. Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, along with Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, round out a talented ice dance roster aiming to extend the U.S.’s streak of five consecutive Olympic Games with a medal.

U.S. Figure Skating Olympic Team:

• Men’s Singles: Ilia Malinin, Andrew Torgashev, Maxim Naumov
• Women’s Singles: Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, Isabeau Levito
• Pairs: Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, Emily Chan and Spencer Howe
• Ice Dance: Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko