Maxim Naumov delivered an emotional short program at the Milan Cortina Games, dedicating his Olympic debut to his late parents, former pairs world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The U.S. figure skater, 24, carried an old photograph of himself as a child with his parents to the kiss-and-cry area, feeling their presence with every glide on the ice.

Naumov's parents were among 67 people killed when American Airlines Flight 5342 crashed into a military helicopter on January 29, 2025, including over two dozen members of the figure skating community. One of their last conversations centered on what it would take for Naumov to make the Olympics. After finishing fourth at the U.S. championships for the third consecutive year, he flew out early from Wichita, Kansas, where the fatal flight was carrying 11 young skaters, two coaches, and family members returning from a development camp.

Opening with a quad salchow and following with a triple axel and triple lutz-triple toe loop, Naumov scored 85.65 to advance to the free skate. As the final notes of Chopin's "Nocturne No. 20" echoed through the arena, he slid to his knees, looking skyward to tell his parents "Look at what we've done." The performance, one of the best of his career, fulfilled a shared Olympic dream and brought tears to spectators' eyes. Naumov will compete again Friday night in the men's free skate.