Ilia Malinin, the 20-year-old figure skating sensation who recently claimed his third consecutive U.S. figure skating title, finds himself struggling to process a tragedy that hit close to home. Just days after his victory, Malinin could barely manage 30 minutes on the ice at his home rink in Reston, Virginia.
“I knew I had to go to the rink,” Malinin said in a phone interview, “but I had no strength, mentally or physically, to skate. It was very hard to be there after what happened, knowing that so many of the skaters involved were people I knew.”
He was referring to the American Eagle flight that crashed into the Potomac River after a mid-air collision with a military helicopter. The crash, which occurred on Wednesday night, took the lives of everyone on board, including several young skaters and coaches Malinin knew personally.
A Personal Connection to the Victims
Malinin’s voice reflected the weight of the tragedy as he spoke about his friends. “It’s terrible what happened. These kids had dreams, and suddenly, their chances just disappeared. They were working hard to become better skaters, and this tragedy is truly heartbreaking,” he said.
Malinin had flown home on an American Eagle direct flight from Wichita to Washington, D.C., on Monday after the national championships. The younger skaters had flown the same route on Wednesday after attending a development camp.
“When I heard the news, I knew right away it was bad. It was devastating because I knew some of the kids from the camp would be on that flight,” Malinin said.
Among the victims were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former pairs world champions from Russia, who had since become coaches in the U.S. Their son, Maxim Naumov, competed at the same event as Malinin, finishing fourth.
A Shared Background and Deep Loss
Malinin and Maxim Naumov share more than just competitive experience. Malinin’s parents, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, also have deep roots in figure skating. Tatiana competed in 10 consecutive world championships for Uzbekistan and finished eighth at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Roman represented Uzbekistan in both the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics.
“Our families knew each other well,” Malinin explained. “When we heard the news, it hit hard. My parents knew them for a long time, and we feel for Maxim. I haven’t been able to talk to him yet, but we’re hoping he gets the support he needs.”
A Long Road Back to Routine
Despite the weight of grief, Malinin knows he must eventually return to his routine. The 2025 World Championships are approaching in less than two months, and the 2026 Winter Olympics are on the horizon. As a favorite for both events, the pressure to train is immense, but for now, his focus is elsewhere.
“For those skaters, a fun camp turned into a tragedy, and it has changed everything so quickly that we’re struggling to process it,” Malinin said. “It doesn’t even feel real yet.”
While time will help heal some of the pain, the memory of those lost will stay with Malinin as he pushes forward in his career, carrying the dreams of his fallen friends with him.
Ilia Malinin’s journey has taken a sudden, emotional turn as he copes with the loss of skaters and friends from a tragedy he never expected. His resilience will be tested, but his heart remains with those who lost their lives. In the coming months, as he prepares for major competitions, he’ll likely draw strength from their memory, pushing through the grief while honoring their legacy.
