Defending World Figure Skating champion Ilya Malinin of Northern Virginia fondly recalled his interactions with some of the young figure skaters who died in the tragic January 29 plane crash following his passionate performance in front of a sellout crowd at the Capital One Arena in D.

Watch: This emotional skater manages to pull of the perfect tribute performance for his parents who were killed in the D.C. plane crash.

(AP Photo/Nick Wass) Ilia Malinin performs Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Washington, at the Legacy on Ice event, a figure skating tribute to support the families and loved ones affected by the Jan. 29 aviation incident. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Christina Carreira ...

At the end of his figure skating performance, when the last note of his parents’ favorite song played in an arena packed with spectators and heavy with sorrow, Maxim Naumov dropped to his knees at the center of the ice. He remained there for what seemed like forever, awash in a spotlight, looking lost and sobbing.

2024 World Champion Ilia Malinin and others. As roses filled the candlelit table, speakers shared their memories of the skaters and coaches that perished in the tragic crash. Representatives from the DC’s professional sports community — MLB’s ...

The performers at the “Legacy on Ice” benefit included Maxim Naumov, whose parents, figure skating coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were among those killed when a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter collided with a regional jet near the nation’s capital on Jan. 29.

Dzens of U.S. figure skaters descended on the District this weekend: to honor the coaches, skaters and family members they lost in January’s American Airlines crash outside Reagan National Airport.

Some of the most legendary names in U.S. figure skating participated in Sunday's "Legacy on Ice" to pay tribute to victims of January plane crash.

WASHINGTON — Organizers of a figure skating benefit event in Washington said they have already raised $1.2 million for victims of the D.C. plane crash and first responders.

One of the possibly most heart-wrenching performances was that of Maxim Naumov, who skated in honor of his parents, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.