Figure skater's heart-wrenching routine honors parents he lost in DC plane crash, leaves audience in tears

There are no words to describe a child's pain in losing their parents at a very young age, and vice versa. While many of the victims’ families from the heartbreaking Washington, DC, plane crash in late January are still trying to cope with their loss, a figure skater’s performance honoring his late mom and dad has struck a chord with many online. U.S. figure skater Maxim Naumov left the crowd at Capital One Arena speechless with his incredibly emotional act, portraying his journey in dealing with a recently unfolded personal crisis. Naumov’s parents, pair skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were among the 67 people who perished in a mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter, reported Comic Sands. New York Minute reshared glimpses of the three-time pewter medalist's soulful tribute to his late parents, captivating the entire DC arena.

As part of the "Legacy on Ice" event, Naumov and other athletes from the figure skating community performed to honor their former colleagues and loved ones. Notably, the skating community bore the brunt of the crash, in which 30 people connected to their tribe, including 11 young skaters, lost their lives, per Fox 32. The event, reportedly held for both memorial and fundraising purposes, took a surprising turn with Naumov’s unexpectedly powerful performance, leaving the crowd emotional. The elite skater received wholehearted support from the attendees.

Naumov’s performance began as he walked onto the ice carrying two white roses representing his late parents. The figure skater tenderly laid the roses on a memorial candle display as his gesture to remember his late parents, who were also skaters. He then moved to the middle of the ice rink, receiving massive applause for showing remarkable courage and resilience in tough times. As part of his routine, Naumov mimed holding invisible hands beside him, longing for his mom and dad’s presence.

Moreover, the figure skater was performing to “The City That Does Not Exist” tunes by Igor Kornelyuk in Russian. It was his mom and dad’s favorite song when they were alive. Naumov gracefully carried out some challenging moves throughout the six-minute-long routine. At one point, the elite skater performed quadruple jumps so effortlessly that the crowd was amazed by his skills. In the end, Naumov fell to his knees and openly wept to thunderous applause from the audience. He was later joined by a group of other skaters, who were equally expressive through their magical performance.

Expressing his gratitude, Naumov later wrote on his Instagram: “Your love has filled my heart so profoundly that it brings tears to my eyes. The generosity and compassion you have shown have given me the strength to keep moving forward, one day at a time. This means more to me than I could ever put into words.” “Mom and Dad, I love you,” he added in Russian, sharing a picture from the evening. Meanwhile, his tribute to his late parents drew emotional and heartfelt reactions on social media. Among them, @canyoubelieve2167 expressed, “Not only were they his parents, but they were also his coaches. This young man’s life has been turned upside down. God bless him.” @mildredrowland1832 added, “I cried with him. It took so much strength to do this tribute.”