Russian Figure Skating Champions Among Victims of Washington Air Collision

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, renowned for their 1994 world title, were aboard the plane that crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with a military helicopter.

The crash in Washington involved an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter, resulting in 67 fatalities, including three Russian nationals confirmed by Moscow.
Evgenia Shishkova, 52, and Vadim Naumov, 55, were celebrated figure skaters who won the 1994 World Championship in pairs and later became coaches in the United States.
The couple's son, Maxim Naumov, a rising figure skater, had recently competed in the U.S. National Championships in Wichita, Kansas, from where the ill-fated plane departed.
The International Skating Union and the global figure skating community expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing the sport's close-knit nature and solidarity in mourning the loss.
A minute of silence was observed at the European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn to honor the victims, reflecting the profound impact of the tragedy on the skating world.