"Maxim Naumov typically trembles as he waits in his opening position before the music begins. But on Tuesday, the 24-year-old U.S. figure skater stood firm at center ice with the Olympic rings beneath his feet and his right fist raised. A white gold ring with a single diamond on his ring finger glittered in the light. It was his father's ring."
"A year after his parents Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were among 67 people killed in a D.C. plane crash, Naumov carried their strength during his Olympic debut and delivered an emotional season's best 85.65 in the men's short program that qualified him for the free skate. U.S. teammate Andrew Torgashev also scored a season's best in his Olympic debut, qualifying for Thursday's free skate with an 89.94."
"Skating to "Maybe I Maybe You" by the Scorpions, Torgashev flashed the rock and roll symbol to the crowd as he saluted. Instead of the raw emotion Naumov released after the U.S. championship that clinched his Olympic spot last month, he smiled purely and breathed deeply while the crowd at Milano Ice Skating Arena showered him with applause. He looked toward the rafters and spoke to his parents. "Look what we just did," Naumov said. "We did it.""
Maxim Naumov stood steady at center ice wearing his father's white gold ring after his parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were among 67 people killed in a D.C. plane crash. He delivered a season-best 85.65 in the men's short program to qualify for the Olympic free skate. U.S. teammate Andrew Torgashev also recorded a season-best 89.94 and advanced, with coaches celebrating after his final combination jump. The elder Naumov and Shishkova were three-time world pairs medalists, two-time Olympians and coaches at the Skating Club of Boston. Naumov looked to the rafters and told his parents, 'Look what we just did.'
Read at Los Angeles Times
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]