- Over two dozen figure skating icons gathered in Washington, D.C., on Sunday for the “Legacy on Ice” tribute. The show honored the victims of the January plane crash over the Potomac River that killed 67 people, including 28 members of the figure skating community.
- Olympic gold medalists Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi co-hosted the show.
- As of Monday, more than $1.2 million has been raised to help the victims’ families, first responders and U.S. Figure Skating.
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A little more than a month after an American Airlines plane collided with a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River, killing 67 people, the U.S. Figure Skating community came together in tribute just a mile and a half from the crash site. More than 15,000 fans turned out for “Legacy on Ice,” honoring those who lost their lives and the first responders who attempted to save them.
Why was this event held?
Twenty-eight of the 67 victims were from the figure skating community. They were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
Olympic gold medalists Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi co-hosted the two-hour “Legacy on Ice” event.
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“Although we can’t reverse the effects of the tragedy, we are not powerless,” Boitano said. “As skaters, we have learned to be resilient and to always find a path forward that is positive. And as skaters, we learned to express our emotions through artistry.”
Who was in attendance?
The event was announced on Jan. 29, just one week after the air disaster, and put together in just over 30 days. The lineup included 37 of the figure skating community’s most iconic athletes and decorated stars, including Johnny Weir, Michael Weiss, Peggy Flemming, Nathan Chen and Scott Hamilton. After each performance, speakers shared their memories of the skaters and coaches who died.
“When I heard the news of the plane crash just miles from here, the shock was beyond description, which instantly turns to grief, sadness, overwhelming, and then the mourning starts. But throughout it all, I felt like I had to be here,” Hamilton said before leading the arena in a prayer for the victims and their families.
Who had the most poignant moment?
The most emotional moment Sunday came as Maxim Naumov, whose parents Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov died in the crash, skated to one of their favorite songs. Naumov collapsed to his knees, sobbing after the performance.
Nearly 500 first responders and 150 family members of the victims were in attendance. As of Monday afternoon, more than $1.2 million has been raised for those affected by the tragedy. The event aired on Monumental Sports network in the Washington, D.C. area.
