A Year After Losing Both Parents In D.C. Plane Crash, Figure Skater Earns Olympic Spot
The U.S. figure skating national championships held in St. Louis over the weekend saw winners securing their spots in the Winter Olympics. However, the drama continued with the announcement of the U.S. Olympic team on Sunday.
U.S. Figure Skating unveiled the 16 athletes who will represent the country at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Games in Italy. This includes newly crowned men’s national champion Ilia Malinin, first-time Olympian Amber Glenn in the women’s competition, and seven-time national champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates in ice dance.
Maxim Naumov, who finished third behind Malinin, has a poignant backstory in the sport. His parents, former Olympic competitors for Russia, tragically lost their lives in a plane crash last year along with 26 others connected to figure skating.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Maxim Naumov fulfilled his dream of becoming an Olympian and will compete in men’s singles alongside Malinin and Andrew Torgashev. Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito will represent the U.S. in the women’s competition. Madison Chock and Evan Bates will compete in ice dance, aiming to add to their impressive record of five consecutive national titles.
The pairs teams and the drama surrounding the exclusion of Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov were also part of the selection process for the U.S. Olympic team. The 2026 Winter Games are scheduled to take place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, from Feb. 6-22.
