What Happened to Maxim Naumov’s Parents? Everything to Know About His Family
American figure skater Maxim Naumov is going for gold in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The pro athlete is making his Olympics debut at the Milano Cortina Games, and he’s using a 2025 family tragedy as inspiration.
Maxim’s parents both died in a horrific accident in January 2025, just over a year before the 2026 Olympics.
“I would not be sitting here without the unimaginable work, effort, and love from my parents,” Maxim said in a press conference after making the Olympic team. “It means absolutely everything to me, fulfilling the dream that we collectively had as a family since I first was on the ice at 5 years old. So it means absolutely everything. And I know they’re looking down, smiling and proud.”
Scroll down to learn more about Maxim’s parents and their figure skating connection, as well as what happened to them and more.
Who were Maxim Naumov’s parents?
Maxim’s parents were Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova. They were 55 and 52, respectively, when they died on January 29, 2025.
Vadim and Evegenia were both figure skaters. The couple, who competed for Russia, won the 1994 World Championships for pairs figure skating. Vadim and Evgenia competed at the Winter Olympics in 1992 and 1994, but did not medal.
The pair’s professional relationship on the ice began in 1985, according to an obituary in the International Skating Union. They wed in 1995 and moved to the United States three years later, then welcomed Maxim in 2001.
Vadim and Evgenia did not make the 1998 Olympic team, which is when they retired from professional skating and began their careers as coaches in the United States. At the time of their deaths, they were coaching for the Skating Club of Boston.
What happened to Maxim Naumov’s parents?
Maxim’s parents were passengers on the American Eagle Flight 5342, which crashed with a helicopter above the Potomac River in January 2025, killing all 64 people on board, as well as three passengers on the helicopter.
The flight was scheduled to arrive at Reagan National Airport in Virginia after taking off from Wichita, Kansas. Vadim and Evgenia were in Kansas to coach a national development camp amid the U.S. Figure Skating Championship. Maxim was also in town for the event (he placed fourth), but left on a separate flight.
Two months after the plane crash, Maxim spoke about his parents in an interview with Today and revealed that they ended up in the deadly accident because they changed flights after their initial layover in Dallas was delayed.”My mom let me know that they were switching flights and if I could pick them up,” he explained. “My mom always texts me and calls me as soon as they land.”
However, he was left with inspiring parting words. “It was actually my mom that called me,” Maxim continued. “She was like, ‘Hey, I just want you to know that we love you and we’re proud of you.’ It means everything to me. My whole life, a part of it, was to make them proud.”
Is Maxim Naumov an only child?
Yes, Maxim is an only child. He does not have any siblings.
Vadim and Evgenia were endlessly proud of their only child, though. Their last joint Instagram post was in Maxim’s honor. “Once again, Maxim made us all proud, getting on to the podium at Nationals after 7th place in the short,” they wrote. “This beautiful and emotional performance is a result of a team work. Huge thanks to Serhii and Irina Vaypan and of course to Adam Blake for his wonderful choreography of a classic! Maxim has earned his place in the team of 4 Continents.”
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