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Maxim Naumov Shares Touching Tribute To Parents After USA Olympic Performance

Team USA figure skater Maxim Naumov shared a wholesome tribute after his Olympics debut performance.
Grant Young|
Maxim Naumov cries after his performance
Maxim Naumov cries after his performance | Josh Morgan-USA TODAY via Imagn Images

Team USA figure skater Maxim Naumov has one of the most heartbreaking stories of these Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Naumov's parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were among the 67 people killed in thecollision between an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter near Washington, DC, on January 30, 2025.

Maxim Naumov performs
Maxim Naumov performs | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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It's hard to imagine just how tragic this must have been for Naumov, who was just 23 years old at the time his parents passed in the plane crash.

And given that both of his parents performed in the Olympics as figure skaters, it was their dream to see their son competing in his own Olympic Games.

Maxim Naumov poses for a photo
Maxim Naumov poses for a photo | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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Naumov held up his end of the bargain on Tuesday, as he made his Olympic debut in the men’s short program. And he didn't just perform; he excelled, putting together a remarkable performance that scored a season's best 85.65 and shot him up the Olympic leaderboard.

NBC's X account posted a full video of Naumov's routine with the caption, "The Olympic dreams have come true for Maxim Naumov. 🇺🇸⛸".

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Maxim Naumov Pays Tribute to Parents After Debut Olympic Performance

But perhaps the bigger story is what came after Naumov's performance, when he pulled out a photo of his parents when his score was displayed on the stadium screen.

It was a different photo from the one that Naumov displayed after performing in the World Figure Skating Championships earlier this year.

Maxim Naumov reacts after competing
Maxim Naumov reacts after competing | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Right before his program began, Naumov had a message. flash on the stadium screen that said, “Mom and Dad, this is for you."

Naumov has gained a ton of fans because of his story and this touching tribute.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers the Athlete Lifestyle, Women’s Basketball, the New York Mets, the Baltimore Orioles, the Chicago Cubs, and boxing for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years.

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