"Maxim Naumov glides across the ice alone, but during his chase for the 2026 Olympics, the 24-year-old figure skater rarely referred to his journey as a solo endeavor. Wearing a new white U.S. figure skating jacket on stage at Enterprise Center, Naumov celebrated those that helped him reach his goals, even those who could not be present for the moment. He knew his parents Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were still watching. "We did it," he said as a wide smile split his face. "We absolutely did it.""
"Naumov's emotional selection highlighted what could be the country's strongest roster in decades. Between the 16 athletes representing the team in Milan, there are three reigning world champions. With the Olympic team event that debuted in 2014, the United States has a chance to win the most Olympic medals for the country since four in 1960. The five medals in 1956 are the U.S. figure skating record for a single Olympic Games."
Maxim Naumov, 24, earned a spot on the 2026 U.S. Olympic figure skating team less than a year after losing his parents in a plane crash. Naumov acknowledged his family and supporters while celebrating his selection, expressing shared accomplishment. The U.S. roster of 16 athletes includes three reigning world champions and presents one of the deepest teams in decades. The Olympic team event gives the United States a strong chance at its highest medal total since 1960, with the 1956 five-medal mark remaining the single-Games record. Several women and men enter Milan as serious medal contenders.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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