NEW YORK (PIX11) – Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were aboard a plane that crashed Wednesday in the Potomac River, according to the Kremlin.
Shishkova and Naumov were married and won a 1994 world championship in pairs figure skating. The skaters competed for Russia in the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Olympics, according to the Skating Club of Boston, where they are listed as coaches.
The pair have been coaching since the late 1990s after their championship run. In addition to the 1994 win, they took home medals at championships worldwide throughout the 90s. Both studied in St. Petersburg, Russia.
"I like to share my passion and love for the sport of figure skating with my students," Shishkova said in her coaching bio.
Naumov spoke in his coaching bio about coaching his students on and off the ice. Both former champions have coached their students through regional and international championship placement.
"I love to create an environment where students have fun while working hard. I also believe that helping and guiding athletes through their emotional challenges, ups and downs during training and competing are coach’s responsibilities," he said.
The pair's death is a devastating blow to the figure skating community.
"The skating community is small - a lot of people know each other or know of each other What happened last night was devastating," said figure skating analyst Jackie Wong. "Please keep the families and loved ones of all involved in your thoughts. Be good to one another."
The Skating Club of Boston sent athletes to the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which concluded Sunday. The crashed plane contained people coming from the Wichita competition.
A jet with 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter Wednesday while approaching the Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington. The aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River. Everyone onboard was feared dead, officials said Thursday.
This story comprises reporting from the Associated Press.
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