A star-studded cast of figure skaters gathered in Washington on Sunday to pay tribute to those lost in the January collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport, which claimed 67 lives including 28 members of the skating community. The “Legacy on Ice” event at Capital One Arena honored the victims while raising money for those affected.
Olympic champions Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi hosted the event, welcoming both current and former greats of the sport. Figure skating legends Nancy Kerrigan, Scott Hamilton, and Peggy Fleming spoke at the event, which featured performances from top skaters Ilia Malinin, Johnny Weir, Jason Brown, and more.
A day after the Washington Capitals wore decals honoring the victims, several players attended the tribute, including captain Alex Ovechkin. “Sports can play a convening and healing role,” said Caps owner Ted Leonsis. “Our goal is to allow the community to heal with a collective hug.”
Thirteen-year-old Isabella Aparicio and 23-year-old Maxim Naumov delivered emotional performances, both paying tribute to family members who were on Flight 5342. Aparicio skated to a rendition of “Canon in D,” accompanied by her father’s recording of the song before his death.
Naumov picked music with a personal connection, skating to a Belarusian composer’s piece that brought back memories of his parents’ love. His teammates joined him on the ice for a group routine, and after initially remaining on his knees, Naumov stood up to skate again.
Source: https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2025/03/03/capitals-players-legacy-on-ice-figure-skating-tribute