Russian skating couple, world champions in 1990s, were in crashed US airliner

Russian Skating Couple, World Champions In 1990s, Were In Crashed Us Airliner

Emergency response units conduct search and rescue operations in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport, Wednesday, in Washington, D.C. AFP-Yonhap

Emergency response items conduct search and rescue operations within the Potomac River close to Ronald Reagan Washington Airport, Wednesday, in Washington, D.C. AFP-Yonhap

Russian-born ice skating coaches and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov have been aboard the American Airways airplane that crashed into the Potomac River in Washington on Wednesday night time, the Kremlin and state media mentioned.

Shishkova and Naumov, who have been married to one another, gained the world championships in pairs determine skating in 1994, and U.S. media mentioned they’d lived in the USA since not less than 1998, the place they skilled younger ice skaters.

Scores of individuals have been feared useless after the American Airways passenger jet carrying 64 individuals collided with a U.S. Military Black Hawk helicopter and plummeted into the frigid Potomac River close to Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport.

U.S. Determine Skating, the governing physique for the game in the USA, mentioned Shishkova and Naumov have been reported to have been coming back from a Nationwide Growth Camp held together with the U.S. Determine Skating Championships in Kansas, and travelling with a bunch of younger skaters.

Russia’s Mash information outlet printed an inventory of 13 skaters, a lot of them the youngsters of Russian emigres to the USA, who it mentioned might have been on the airplane.

Talking in St Petersburg, Ludmila Velikova, who skilled Shishkova and Naumov once they have been kids and who was pivotal to their success, advised Reuters {that a} group of 14 skaters and trainers had been on board the airplane.

She mentioned she was devastated by the lack of Shishkova and Naumov, however relieved that their son Maxim, who had competed in Kansas, had not been on the identical airplane.

‚They have been my kids‘

„They have been my favourite sports activities individuals. They have been a part of my first try on the world championships and have become champions in 1994. They have been gifted and delightful individuals,“ mentioned Velikova, visibly distraught.

„Aside from anything they have been my kids. Zhenya (Shishkova) skilled with me from the age of 11 and Vladik (Naumov) from age 14. They have been like my very own kids. What’s occurred is terrible. The most effective individuals have been taken away from us.“

Inna Volyanskaya, a former skater who competed for the pre-1991 Soviet Union, was additionally reported to have been on board the airplane, TASS mentioned. She was a coach on the Washington determine skating membership, based on its web site.

The Kremlin expressed its condolences to the households of Russian residents who misplaced their lives within the crash and mentioned the information that Shishkova and Naumov had been on board gave the impression to be confirmed.

„There have been different of our fellow residents on board. It is dangerous information in the present day from Washington. We’re sorry and ship our condolences to households and mates,“ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised reporters.

Russia’s determine skating federation voiced its condolences to those that had misplaced family members within the crash, however mentioned it was unable to remark additional.

„We’re devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and maintain the victims‘ households carefully in our hearts,“ U.S. Determine Skating mentioned in a press release.

Skaters had simply competed in world championships

Greater than 180 athletes competed within the Jan. 20-26 championships in Kansas, the group mentioned. The event camp was held Jan. 27-28 for almost 150 up-and-coming skaters throughout efficiency ranges, the U.S. Determine Skating web site mentioned.

The Worldwide Skating Union (ISU) mentioned it was „deeply shocked by the tragic accident.“

„We’re heartbroken to be taught that determine skaters, together with their households, mates, and coaches, are understood to be amongst these on board,“ the worldwide governing physique mentioned in a press release. „Our ideas are with everybody affected by this tragedy.

„Determine skating is greater than a sport – it is a close-knit household – and we stand collectively. We stay in shut contact with U.S. Determine Skating and provide our full help throughout this extremely tough time.“

Officers haven’t mentioned how many individuals died in Wednesday night time’s midair crash between the airliner and helicopter however steered that there could be no survivors.

In 1961, the 18-member U.S. determine skating staff died in a airplane crash en path to the world championships in Prague. (Reuters)

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