The world of Artistic skating Face a tragedy that has shocked his community. A plane crash occurred on Wednesday night in Washington, DC left multiple victims, including world champions, young promises and their families. According to CNNthe incident involved a plane of American Airlines and a military helicopter Black Hawkwhich collided in full flight. There were no survivors.
According to a statement from US Figure Skatingthe victims returned from National Development Campmade together with the National Artistic Skating Championships in the United States in Wichita, Kansas. The organization expressed its dismay and pointed out: “These athletes, coaches and family members were an integral part of our community. We are devastated by this indescribable tragedy and accompany the families of the victims in their pain. ”
The exact number of deaths linked to artistic skating has not been confirmed by US Figure Skatingbut the Skating Club Of Boston He informed that among them are a couple of world champions, Two young skaters and their mothers.
The incident has brought to memory The 1961 air disasterwhen an plane that transported the entire American skating team to the World Championship in Prague, Czechoslovakiacrashed into Belgium. In that accident 73 people died, including 18 skaters, its coaches and key figures of sportwhich left a vacuum in the discipline for decades.
On this occasion, loss includes Shishkova Evgenia and Vadim naumov1994 world champions, who marked an era with their innovative style. After emigrating to the United States in the 90s, they dedicated themselves to training new generations. Both were parents of Maxim Naumov23 -year -old skater who recently obtained fourth place in the United States National Championships.
He Skating Club Of Bostonto which Shishkova, Naumov and his son belonged, also lost other members highlighted in the accident. The tragedy will impact the World Skating Championships Scheduled for March in Boston, an event that will now take place in the midst of mourning.
Among the deceased are also Jinna Han13 years, and Spencer Lane16 years, two rising skaters within the American scene. According to the skating Club of Boston, both attended the National Development Camp to train with elite figures after the national championships.
Jinna, who in 2023 exceeded the most advanced skill test of US Figure Skating, was recognized for her maturity and talent. Doug ZeghibeExecutive Director of the Club, highlighted its growth and described it as “a great competitor, a great interpreter and a great girl.”
Spencer, meanwhile, had recently won the Eastern Sectional Competition in the intermediate category. Before the accident, he shared on social networks an image of the wing of the plane with the registration “ICT -> DCA”in reference to the airports of Wichita and Washington.
The 1961 plane crash was a disaster that marked the history of artistic skating in the United States. It happened on February 15, 1961, when the flight Sabena 548operated by the Belgian airline Sabena, crashed into Bergamo, Belgiumwhile heading to Brussels. On board the Complete artistic skating team in the United Statestogether with coaches, judges and relatives, towards the World Artistic Skating Championship in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Accident details:
- The aircraft was a Boeing 707which took off from New York bounded to Brussels, where passengers would make a connection to Prague.
- During the approach to Brussels airport, the pilot reported mechanical problemsbut did not send an emergency signal before the plane fell into a field near the town of Berg-Kampenhout.
- There were no survivors and the exact cause of the accident was never determined with certainty, although it is suspected of mechanical failures or a pilot error.
Impact on artistic skating:
- The accident left a generational vacuum in the American artistic skating, since athletes were lost that would have represented the country in future competitions.
- The disaster influenced the decision of the International Ice Skating Union (ISU) to cancel the 1961 World Championshipsas a sample of respect for the deceased.
This accident remains one of the greatest tragedies in the history of artistic skating and, to date, it is a reminder of the impact that such an event can have on the development of a sport.
The pain has joined the skating community in tributes and samples of solidarity. Nancy Kerrigantwice Olympic medalist, and Dr. Tenley Albrightthe first American woman to win the Olympic gold in 1956, gathered at the skating Club of Boston to remember the victims.
Albright, who lost more than a dozen friends in the 1961 accident, expressed his confusion against this new tragedy. “I don’t know how to drive this,” said the 89 -year -old skater, remembering that at that time she did not travel to Prague because she was in her last year of medicine.
Kerrigan, visibly affected, mentioned that he knew some of the deceased. “Children work here very hard. His parents make great sacrifices so they can be here. I feel a deep pain for athletes, their families and for all those who were on that plane, ”he said.
This week’s catastrophe revives the trauma 1961 accidentan event that still resonates in the history of artistic skating. Among the victims of that tragedy were ice dance champions Diane Carol Sherbloom and Larry Piercein addition to the renowned coach Maribel Yerxa Vinson-Owen and her daughter, the Olympic skatestride Maribel Yerxa Owen.
In honor of the deceased of 1961, Us Figure Skating established a commemorative fund that has granted more than 20 million dollars in support of athletes to cover sports and educational expenses. However, as the analyst of CNN, Christine Brennansport faces a new tragedy of similar magnitude.
“This calamity has truncated the lives and dreams of young athletes who aspired to represent the United States in international competitions and in the Olympic Games,” said Brennan.
The artistic skating community, beaten again by the tragedy, now faces the challenge of honoring the memory of the victims while seeking to rebuild and move on in the midst of pain.
