Former figure skater Scott Hamilton was left devastated by the recent American Airlines plane crash that took the lives of 14 young skaters. In an emotional moment on the “Today” show, Hamilton, 66, expressed his shock and grief over the tragedy, which has deeply affected the skating community and beyond.
The crash occurred when a commercial flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a military helicopter and crashed into Washington, D.C.’s Potomac River. The U.S. Figure Skating organization confirmed that 14 young athletes were onboard the flight, returning home from a national development camp.
In a statement released by U.S. Figure Skating, the organization expressed their devastation over the loss of their community members and extended their heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. The skating world is mourning the loss of not just the young skaters, but also coaches, parents, and other passengers who were on the flight.
Among the victims were coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, whom Hamilton had met during the 1994 Olympics. Hamilton remembered the couple fondly, describing them as champion skaters who aspired to build their professional lives in America.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Hamilton expressed his disbelief and sorrow over the loss of lives, including that of the couple’s son Maxim, who was not on the flight but is also a talented skater. Hamilton shared a heartwarming memory of Maxim paying tribute to him at a cancer fundraising event and emphasized the profound impact of the loss on the skating community.
The figure skating world is reeling from the loss of these young talents and their mentors, as they come together to mourn and support each other during this challenging time.