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Maxim Naumov took to the ice in Milan on Tuesday, marking his first appearance as an Olympian in the men’s short program at the Winter Olympics. This moment represented the realization of a lifelong dream for the figure skater.
Naumov’s Olympic debut comes in the wake of a personal tragedy; just over a year ago, he lost both parents in a 2025 plane crash over the Potomac River. Beyond being his parents, they were also his coaches, guiding him through his skating career. Despite the devastating loss, Naumov harnessed his physical resilience and emotional strength to continue his training.
The 2026 Winter Games held profound meaning for Naumov, particularly since competing in Milan was a dream he had shared with his father during their last conversations before the tragic accident. Naumov described reaching this pinnacle as fulfilling a “mission” he had envisioned with his parents since childhood.
Remarkably, Naumov felt a unique sense of calm as he performed his short program on Tuesday. He noted that the usual pre-competition nerves were absent, attributing his composure to the comforting “presence of his parents” that he sensed while on the ice.
After his performance, Naumov reflected on his motivations, expressing a heartfelt hope that his parents would be proud of his achievements. He emphasized their enduring influence on his journey to the Olympics, having found solace in rigorous training as a means to cope with his grief.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.