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The 23-year-old figure skater channeled his grief into a performance honoring the two people who had shaped his life—his parents.
Son of Evgenia “Zhenya” Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, both world champion skaters in Russia, took center stage at DC’s "Legacy on Ice" event, a tribute to the 67 lives lost in the January plane crash over the Potomac River.
He performed to one of his late-parents' favorite songs, according to NBC, and fell to his knees at the end of his routine, overwhelmed with emotion.
The emotional Naumov was given a standing ovation as he slowly made his way off the ice, saluting the crowd and wiping tears from his eyes.
Days later, on Tuesday, March 4, Naumov turned to Instagram to share his grief and gratitude, penning a heartfelt tribute to his parents and those who had supported him.
"I am truly at a loss for words to express the depth of my gratitude and love for each and every one of you," he wrote. "Every embrace, message, call, and prayer has touched me in ways I can’t fully describe, and I am beyond grateful for your kindness and support."
Naumov's parents were both legendary figure skating stars in their native Russia, competing in multiple Winter Olympics and winning the 1994 World Championship in pairs for Russia.
They later became renowned coaches in the US, and were on their way home from a skating camp in Kansas at the time of the crash.
"Your love has filled my heart so profoundly that it brings tears to my eyes," Naumov continued. "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. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing by me during the most difficult time of my life."
At the end of his post, a simple but powerful message: "Мама и Папа, я вас люблю ❤️"—"Mom and Dad, I love you."
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