Maxim Naumov's journey to the Olympics was not without its challenges, but he has proven that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. One year after his parents' tragic death in a plane crash, Naumov secured a spot on the US Figure Skating team for the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Naumov's path to Olympic glory began when he was just five years old, talking about becoming an Olympian with his family. The 24-year-old from Simsbury, Connecticut, has been working tirelessly towards his goal, and it finally paid off as he was selected to join the US team.
The loss of his parents in a plane crash in January 2025 had weighed heavily on Naumov's mind, but he used their words of encouragement to fuel his determination. In an emotional interview, Naumov said that making the Olympic team meant "the world" to him and that it was "what I've been thinking about since I was five years old."
Naumov will join Andrew Torgashev on the men's side of the US team, while Madison Chock and Evan Bates will anchor the ice dance duo. The pair has won numerous titles together, including three consecutive world championships and the gold medal at three straight Grand Prix Finals.
Other athletes who have made the cut for the Olympic team include Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito, Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, as well as Emily Chan and Spencer Howe. However, not all pairs teams were successful - Alisa Efimova's bid to compete in Italy was thwarted due to issues with her citizenship.
As the athletes prepare for the Olympics, they are aware of the significance of their selection, but also acknowledge that there is a human element involved in making decisions about the team. U.S. Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell noted that "the importance and magnitude of selecting an Olympic team is one of the most important milestones in an athlete's life."
Despite the challenges ahead, Naumov and his fellow athletes are excited to be part of what promises to be a memorable Olympics. With their dedication and perseverance, they are poised to make their mark on history and bring home medals for the US.
Naumov's path to Olympic glory began when he was just five years old, talking about becoming an Olympian with his family. The 24-year-old from Simsbury, Connecticut, has been working tirelessly towards his goal, and it finally paid off as he was selected to join the US team.
The loss of his parents in a plane crash in January 2025 had weighed heavily on Naumov's mind, but he used their words of encouragement to fuel his determination. In an emotional interview, Naumov said that making the Olympic team meant "the world" to him and that it was "what I've been thinking about since I was five years old."
Naumov will join Andrew Torgashev on the men's side of the US team, while Madison Chock and Evan Bates will anchor the ice dance duo. The pair has won numerous titles together, including three consecutive world championships and the gold medal at three straight Grand Prix Finals.
Other athletes who have made the cut for the Olympic team include Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito, Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, as well as Emily Chan and Spencer Howe. However, not all pairs teams were successful - Alisa Efimova's bid to compete in Italy was thwarted due to issues with her citizenship.
As the athletes prepare for the Olympics, they are aware of the significance of their selection, but also acknowledge that there is a human element involved in making decisions about the team. U.S. Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell noted that "the importance and magnitude of selecting an Olympic team is one of the most important milestones in an athlete's life."
Despite the challenges ahead, Naumov and his fellow athletes are excited to be part of what promises to be a memorable Olympics. With their dedication and perseverance, they are poised to make their mark on history and bring home medals for the US.
i feel like he's a total inspiration!! 
Naumov's been training since he was 5 & now he's gonna represent the US at Milan Cortina Olympics 
this is such a huge accomplishment & imo his parents' words of encouragement played a big role in him getting to where he is today 
U.S. Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell said it best, "selecting an Olympic team is one of the most important milestones in an athlete's life" 
HE'S TRULY INSPIRING ME WITH HIS DETERMINATION & WORK ETHIC! 
ONE YEAR AFTER LOSTING HIS PARENTS IN A PLANE CRASH, HE'S STILL GOING STRONG & FUELLED BY THEIR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT!!! 
I CANT WAIT TO SEE HIM COMPETE AT THE MILAN CORTINA OLYMPICS & BRING HOME THOSE GOLD MEDALS FOR THE US!!! 
losing his parents was a huge blow but he used it to fuel his passion and now he's one step closer to making his Olympic dreams come true 
the US Figure Skating team is looking fierce this year with so many talented athletes 
i'm rooting for Naumov all the way, he deserves every bit of that Olympic glory 
. And of course, all these talented athletes are gonna crush it on the ice 
. It's so inspiring to see him push through the tough times and come out on top 
, with so many talented athletes coming together to represent the country 
. I'm all about him & the rest of the US Figure Skating team now - they gotta bring home those medals for us! 
And omg, Madison Chock & Evan Bates are a power couple 
. Bring on Milan Cortina & let's see these athletes shine! 
. The fact that he made it onto the US team is a testament to his hard work and determination, but let's not forget that this is also a human side of sports where mistakes can happen and emotions can run high 
. I'm still excited for him to represent the US on the ice, but I hope he takes care of himself amidst all the hype 
The US team is going to bring some serious heat to Milan Cortina, and I'm hyped to see how they do. Naumov's story is like, the ultimate underdog tale - he just wants to make his parents proud and get those gold medals! 
he's been training since he was 5 tho 
that's crazy! i'm low-key rooting for him now lol gotta be tough to deal with all that emotional stuff, but he seems like a strong guy 
. I'm rooting for him all the way!
And I love how he used his parents' words of encouragement to fuel his determination - that's truly inspiring. The fact that the US Figure Skating team is so strong this year, with talented athletes like Alysa Liu and Andrew Torgashev, makes me think it's gonna be an amazing Olympics 
. like 10% of pairs teams didn't make it due to citizenship issues? 
And what's up with the lack of transparency in the selection process? I mean, I get it, there are human elements involved and all that jazz, but a little more clarity would be nice 
. And let's not forget about the athletes who didn't make the cut - poor Alisa is stuck waiting for her citizenship to sort itself out 
. It's like they're just throwing their hands up in the air and saying "good luck with that" 
. Can we please get some updates on how they're going to handle things? The athletes need to know what's going on 
.
i mean, losing ur parents in a plane crash is like, super tragic & devastating, but he didnt let it break him. instead, he used their words of encouragement to fuel his determination and now hes gonna represent the us on the olympic stage