Maxim Naumov

Quick Facts

• Specialty: Men's singles figure skating
• Son of Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, 1994 world pairs champions and two-time Olympians
• Serves as on-ice director of Tomorrow's Champions at the Skating Club of Boston, the youth program founded by his parents
• Enjoys coaching young athletes, spending time outdoors, relaxing in the sauna, experimenting with his DJ controller and hanging out with friends

Biographical Information

Maxim Naumov embodies resilience and determination in American figure skating, carrying forward a remarkable family legacy while overcoming profound personal tragedy. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Naumov grew up immersed in the sport as the son of Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, who won the 1994 world pairs championship and competed in two Olympic Games representing Russia. His parents moved to the United States in 1998 to coach at various rinks, eventually settling in Simsbury, Connecticut, where they became beloved fixtures at the International Skating Center of Connecticut. Naumov first stepped on the ice at age 3 and began skating seriously at age 5, also competing in gymnastics during his first four years in the sport.

Under his father's coaching, Naumov developed into one of America's promising young skaters. He won the 2013 U.S. juvenile title and the 2017 U.S. novice championship before capturing the 2020 U.S. junior national title. In 2017, the Naumov family moved to Norwood, Massachusetts, where his parents established the "Tomorrow's Champions" youth program at the prestigious Skating Club of Boston. Transitioning to the senior level, Naumov established himself as a consistent competitor, earning three consecutive fourth-place finishes at the U.S. Championships from 2023 to 2025. His career achievements also include finishing within the top five at the 2020 World Junior Championships and competing at multiple international events including Grand Prix assignments.

On Jan. 29, 2025, Naumov's life changed forever when his parents were among 67 people killed in the midair collision between American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. The couple had stayed in Wichita, Kansas, to participate in a developmental camp for young skaters following the 2025 U.S. Championships, where Maxim had placed fourth. The crash claimed 28 members of the figure skating community, including young athletes, coaches and parents. In the aftermath of this devastating loss, Naumov questioned whether he could continue skating. However, he took up the mantle of his parents' Tomorrow's Champions program and, after performing in several exhibitions, made the courageous decision to return to competitive skating.

Naumov selected Vladimir Petrenko, a longtime family friend and 1986 junior world champion, as his new head coach, and added renowned French choreographer Benoît Richaud to his team. Every week, Petrenko travels from Simsbury to Norwood to train with Naumov at the Skating Club of Boston. At the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Naumov delivered emotionally powerful performances, holding up and kissing a photograph of himself as a child with his late parents after each skate.

He won the bronze medal with a strong free skate performance, earning his place on the 2026 U.S. Olympic team alongside Ilia Malinin and Andrew Torgashev. Upon receiving his Team USA jacket, Naumov expressed that making the Olympics had been a lifelong dream discussed "every day, year after year" with his parents. He now moves forward as both an Olympian and the director of the youth program his parents created, honoring their legacy while inspiring the figure skating community with his strength and perseverance.

Career Highlights

• World Junior Championships, Tallinn, 2020 (Singles - Men)