The Line with Dr Kristen Holmes Maxim Naumov's 2026 Olympic Dream, and How He Kept It After His Parents Death
Feb 5, 2026
Maxim Naumov, U.S. figure skater and coach raised by Olympian parents, talks about his rise to Team USA for the 2026 Olympics. He reflects on skating since age 3, the free skate that clinched his spot, coping with his parents' deaths, stepping into their coaching role, and how the skating community and legacy performances reignited his drive.
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Grief That Forced Immediate Action
- Maxim Naumov recalls losing both parents in the Potomac plane crash and how it felt like a wake-up call.
- He says he almost froze but decided he had to act and keep moving forward immediately after the tragedy.
Stepping Into His Parents' Coaching Shoes
- Maxim describes returning to the rink the day after coming back from Washington and immediately taking on coaching duties for his parents' team.
- He rebuilt daily schedules, worked long hours, and used the responsibility to keep himself moving through grief.
Break Seasons Into Clear Goals
- Maxim structures each season with clear technical, component, and artistry goals and breaks long-term aims into short-term steps.
- He credits that disciplined planning with steady year-over-year progress in skating.