It’s been 345 days since an American Airlines flight collided with a Black Hawk helicopter, altering countless lives. For Maxim Naumov, the crash that claimed 67 lives also tragically included his parents, world champion pairs skaters Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova. And now, Naumov is finally opening up about his ultimate goal.

On Thursday night, in St. Louis, the 24-year-old returned to the US Figure Skating Championships in a bid to secure an Olympic spot with nothing but magic. Skating to Chopin’s “Nocturne No. 20,” he earned 85.72 points, with a whole crowd giving him the standing ovation he deserved.

“I mean, it’s the ultimate goal. I told my parents, and one of our last conversations was exactly about that, and it would mean the actual world for me to do it. So that’s exactly what we’re fighting for. So from when we wake up to when we go to bed every single day, that is my what I think about first thing in the morning and when I shut my eyes,” said Naumov afterward.

Naumov enters the free skate still in contention for a spot on the team, though he faces stiff competition in Tomoki Hiwatashi (2nd) and Andrew Torgashev (5th).

Tears were running down his face while he held what was a faded photograph of himself as a toddler, taking his first steps on ice with his parents, Vadim and Evgenia, in the kiss-and-cry area after his short program.

This skate was not just any performance but something that he wanted to give as a tribute to his parents’ final wish, as he recalled their last conversation before tragedy struck.

“To get out there and just do my best. You know, really happy that the first half is done and I’m just focusing on the second half right away. It’s an emotional one for me, but I’m fighting through it,” he added, opening up about the emotional rollercoaster that his life has been on recently. His performance was surely something!

He stepped out of the quadruple Salchow even though he landed it well during the six-minute warmup. Naumov then made a shaky triple Axel landing, but he successfully executed his triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination.

So, heading into the free skate on Saturday, all eyes will be locked on Naumov, as he attempts to carry on his Winter Olympics dreams to Italy. However, returning to the ice wasn’t that easy for the figure skater.

Maxim Naumov’s path to the Winter Olympics has been tough

When Maxim Naumov lost his parents, the figure skating world mourned with him. He was broken. But still, his thirst to compete didn’t completely fade away; it was just dry for a few months.

“It was difficult to begin to trust somebody, because there was never a question with my parents. They knew me almost better than I know myself,” he said, talking about how hard it was for him to trust his new mentors.

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Indeed, his parents played a huge role in his figure skating career. They had been involved with him since he was just a kid, and they didn’t just teach him jumps and spins; Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova also helped him build the confidence that is required to be a world-class figure skater.

However, for Maxim, things eventually changed when he got an invitation from the famous French choreographer Benoit Richaud. He then joined a training camp in Europe, and the bond between them that started just as a two-week commitment turned into a seven-week partnership.

“Immediately, Benoit was welcoming and told me that he was there to help me in any way possible. Through the camp experience, I got to know his method, and his style and seeing him work with his students every day gave me a lot of information about how the coach-student dynamic works with him,” Naumov recalled.

Now, fast forward to 2026; only time will tell if Naumov’s fate is certain for that elusive sport for the Winter Olympics that has not only been his dream but also a tribute to his late parents.