Maxim Naumov Cheer Thread

^^^ Max grew up in the Simsbury, CT rink so nice homecoming for him. :) His program linked above is “Ants Marching” by Dave Matthews Band. (I posted fan cam videos of 2 other skaters in the Club Shows & Benefits thread in GSD.)

Cross-posting from the U.S. Men's news thread...

Jumping higher, spinning faster: Max [Naumov]’s figure skating story (April 29, 2024) by Joanne Barker:
answers.childrenshospital.org

Jumping higher, spinning faster: Max’s figure skating story - Boston Children's Answers

Max first came to Boston Children’s with an ankle injury in 2017. Since then, his team here has helped him skate at the highest level.
answers.childrenshospital.org answers.childrenshospital.org
Excerpts:
But when he was 15, he came home from a training camp with severe ankle pain. After visiting a number of doctors, Max and his parents made an appointment with Dr. Ellen Geminiani (Dr. Gem) of the Sports Medicine Division. As a physician for U.S. Figure Skating, she understood the nuances of skating injuries, such as those caused by landing on the same ankle thousands of times. And as a former competitive figure skater, she respected Max’s ambitions.
Together, she, Max, and his coaches found ways to balance his athletic goals with his health and well-being. “Coaches and doctors don’t always have the best relationships,” says Max. One typically focuses on the next competition while the other insists on rest. Unlike some of his figure skating friends, this wasn’t the case for Max. “Dr. Gem understands the sport and what goes into it,” he says. “It’s a lot easier to come up with a plan with someone who’s willing to work with you.”
Click to expand...
Like any professional skater, Max approaches his time on the ice with focus and determination. “This is my occupation,” he says. As each season winds down, he and his choreographer get to work developing new programs for the coming year. “Those are some of the coolest moments I have on the ice, just being able to express yourself through the programs and music.”
Click to expand...
 
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^^^ Jackie Wong wrote:
Ok I’m cheating a bit here, but I had to mention the battle of the Toscas in one line. The final group of the men’s free skate in Columbus gave us two angsty, fiery Toscas. And they were both phenomenal, and for me, two of the best of the day.
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Laura4 said:
I couldn't find Max's wonderful Short Program from U.S. Nationals, but I did find his Free Skate:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
Click to expand...
A very belated thanks for finding and posting this fan cam video of Max's FS in Columbus as well as starting this thread with the February 2022 NBC10 Boston segment linked in post #1! :)

This exchange was posted in the U.S. Pairs news thread in early May:
ice coverage said:
(Garrett Lucash/Athlete Centered Skating moved to DSC from SCOB in March.)
Click to expand...
Stephanie said:
Interesting news. I wonder what this means for Maxim Naumov.
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This September 2023 Fan Zone article mentioned that Max had "hired Lucash as his primary coach [last summer], though he still works with his parents on a regular basis" (Vadim Naumov was with his son at 2024 4CC, IIRC? ETA that I have since been reminded that he sat alone in the kiss&cry - perhaps because he was assigned at the last minute?):
usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Naumov Eyes Transformative Season - U.S. Figure Skating

A little more than a year ago, Maxim Naumov was convinced his skating career was over.
usfigureskatingfanzone.com usfigureskatingfanzone.com
 
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People.com article (Jan. 31):
people.com

Plane Crash Victims Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov Said Son 'Made Us All Proud' at Wichita Competition in Final Post

World Champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov shared their pride about their son and figure skating pupil, Maxim Naumov, in their final Instagram post just days before they died in the American Airlines crash in Washington, D.C.
people.com people.com

Not surprisingly, Max has withdrawn from 4CC (Tomoki Hiwatashi replaced him in the ISU entries today).
 
Another GoFundMe: "Support Maxim Naumov: A Son's Unthinkable Loss"

Organized by someone who wishes to remain anonymous, adding only that the person is Max's "long-term dentist."

I skimmed through the list of donors; among them are some recognizable names with ties to Skating Club of Boston.
(I came across the link in an Instastory of a member of SCOB.)

" ... This fund is dedicated to helping Maxim cover the funeral expenses for his parents and to support him during this incredibly difficult time, as he takes the time he needs to grieve the loss of his beloved family. Your support is deeply appreciated as Maxim navigates this unimaginable hardship."

www.gofundme.com

Donate to Support Maxim Naumov: A Son's Unthinkable Loss, organized by Golnaz Movafaghi

Support Maxim Naumov in His Time of Loss Maxim Naumov (23) is the… Golnaz Movafaghi needs your support for Support Maxim Naumov: A Son's Unthinkable Loss
www.gofundme.com www.gofundme.com
 
In an interview with PEOPLE, Olympic gold medalist Ekaterina "Katia" Gordeeva mourned her late teammates Evgenia and Vadim Naumov, killed in the Jan. 29 crash (Feb. 2):
people.com

Skater Maxim Naumov, 23, Who Lost Both Parents in D.C. Plane Crash, Now with Family Friends ‘24 Hours’ a Day (Exclusive)

In an interview with PEOPLE, Olympic gold medalist Ekaterina 'Katia' Gordeeva mourned her late teammates Evgenia Shiskova and Vadim Naumov, killed in the Jan. 29 crash. She revealed their son Maxim Naumov, 23, is being supported by a close family friend around the clock.
people.com people.com
“I know a couple who is with him right now,” Ekaterina "Katia" Gordeeva, a Russian teammate of Zhenya [Shishkova] and Vadim Naumov at the 1994 Olympics and friend of the couple, tells PEOPLE. She says the woman looking after Maxim was “a very dear friend” to his late parents.
“They weren't even in Washington yet, but … that morning [of the plane crash], we all connected right away, all the people from Simsbury,” says Katia, referring to the town in Connecticut where she lives [correction: used to live] and where Zhenya, Vadim lived.
Katia says that the family friend supporting Maxim and his parents used to be “together all the time. So she is like a godmother to him, and she is with him right now there and her husband.”
According to Katia, the couple has known Maxim since he was born and were “very supportive to Vadim and Zhenya all the time” with their son. “I know that Maxim has someone with him 24 hours,” she tells PEOPLE.
Click to expand...
Katia also shares that she and Zhenya bonded over their pregnancies with her daughter and Maxim as they were pregnant at the same time.
“I know that my daughter reached out to him because they are closer to her in age,” she says. Regarding the plane crash that claimed Zhenya and her husband’s life, she continued, “My daughter was so devastated yesterday. She was like, ‘I have to go. I have to go see him right now.’ ”
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ETA that Liza Kulik was born on June 15, 2001; Max on August 1, 2001.
 
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Vivid excerpt from ESPN.com's detailed article that was published today (linked in post #296 in the GSD thread about the plane crash): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...at-crashed-in-d-c.112584/page-10#post-6735243
In Boston, Mitrofanov and Efimova found Joon Han, Jinna's father, at the rink. After learning that his wife and only child were on the plane, he didn't know where else to go.
They took him to the home of their coach, Olga Ganicheva, where they could be with several other skaters, including Max Naumov, who had returned home without his parents.
"We spent all night watching the news and making phone calls to American Airlines to try and find out if somebody is alive or not," Ganicheva said. "Max was very quiet and strong. He just went to the basement and sit there. [But] when on the TV they're showing how [the plane] blow up in the air, he couldn't hold it in anymore."
Around 2:30 a.m., Mitrofanov said, two skaters -- Sedlis and Spencer Howe, who lives with Max -- volunteered to drive Max and Joon to Washington. They didn't want to leave them.
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ice coverage said:
Another GoFundMe: "Support Maxim Naumov: A Son's Unthinkable Loss"

Organized by someone who wishes to remain anonymous, adding only that the person is Max's "long-term dentist."

I skimmed through the list of donors; among them are some recognizable names with ties to Skating Club of Boston.
(I came across the link in an Instastory of a member of SCOB.)

" ... This fund is dedicated to helping Maxim cover the funeral expenses for his parents and to support him during this incredibly difficult time, as he takes the time he needs to grieve the loss of his beloved family. Your support is deeply appreciated as Maxim navigates this unimaginable hardship."

www.gofundme.com

Donate to Support Maxim Naumov: A Son's Unthinkable Loss, organized by Golnaz Movafaghi

Support Maxim Naumov in His Time of Loss Maxim Naumov (23) is the… Golnaz Movafaghi needs your support for Support Maxim Naumov: A Son's Unthinkable Loss
www.gofundme.com www.gofundme.com
Click to expand...

Crowdfunding mini-update, for the sake of completeness:
The GoFundMe organizer who originally was identified only with initials now has added a full name to their page in support of Max.
(A person by that name is a dentist in Norwood, per my Googling.)​
Lest anyone wonder, I am not (and never was) suggesting that either GFM in support of Max is "better" than the other.
I simply am grateful that GFM organizers and donors are providing support to Max.
 
Max posted on Instagram today:

www.instagram.com

Maxim Naumov on Instagram: "I am truly at a loss for words to express the depth of my gratitude and love for each and every one of you. Every embrace, message, call, and prayer has touched me in ways I can’t fully describe, and I am beyond grateful f

23K likes, 1,479 comments - maximnaumov_ on March 4, 2025: "I am truly at a loss for words to express the depth of my gratitude and love for each and every one of you. Every embrace, message, call, and prayer has touched me in ways I can’t fully describe, and I am beyond grateful for your...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
 
Laura4 said:
Max posted on Instagram today:

www.instagram.com

Maxim Naumov on Instagram: "I am truly at a loss for words to express the depth of my gratitude and love for each and every one of you. Every embrace, message, call, and prayer has touched me in ways I can’t fully describe, and I am beyond grateful f

23K likes, 1,479 comments - maximnaumov_ on March 4, 2025: "I am truly at a loss for words to express the depth of my gratitude and love for each and every one of you. Every embrace, message, call, and prayer has touched me in ways I can’t fully describe, and I am beyond grateful for your...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
Click to expand...
I hope Max knows how many strangers were sending him virtual hugs & support. He is so strong to be able to go out in public & skate a program dedicated to his parents.
 
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