On March 2, 2025 in Washington, D.C., legendary skaters from six decades came together for Legacy on Ice, a heartfelt tribute to the victims of the American Airlines tragedy. Through powerful performances, the event honored the young athletes, their coaches, and family members who lost their lives on January 29, 2025.

Legacy on Ice was not only a commemoration of their legacy but also a benefit to support the families and first responders affected by the tragedy. The ISU stands in solidarity with U.S. Figure Skating and the entire skating community during this difficult time.

Skating icons unite in loving memory

They loved Figure Skating and they lived Figure Skating! There is no better way to pay tribute to the young Skaters, their Coaches and family members that died in the tragic accident on January 29 than through the beauty and emotion of the sport they loved. 

Legacy on Ice Memorial  Event in Washington D.C., March 2, 2025 - ©Melanie Heaney

Olympic Champions Nathan Chen, Madison Chock/Evan Bates, Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi, Peggy Fleming, Scott Hamilton, Ilia Kulik, World Champions, World and Olympic medalists such as Ilia Malinin, Nancy Kerrigan, Johnny Weir, Paul Wylie, Kitty and Peter Carruthers, as well as beloved Skaters including Jason Brown, Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito, Sarah Everhardt, Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko, Alisa Efimova/Misha Mitrofanov, Alysa Liu, Jimmy Ma and Jeremy Abbott joined the cast of 32 participants on and off the ice. 

Legacy on Ice Memorial  Event in Washington D.C.,  March 2, 2025 - ©Getty Images

One of the most emotional performances came from Maxim Naumov, who lost his parents and coaches, the 1994 ISU World Champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. He skated to one of his parents’ favorite Russian songs “The City That Is Not There” about St. Petersburg where they came from. 

Legacy on Ice Memorial  Event in Washington D.C., Maxim Naumov, March 2, 2025 - ©Melanie Heaney

The Skaters paid tribute to their fellow athletes and friends Jinna Han, Spencer Lane (Skating Club of Boston), Franco Aparicio, Everly and Alydia Livingston, their coach Inna Volyanskaya (The Washington Figure Skating Club), Angela Yan and Sean Kay, their coach Alexander Kirsanov (The University of Delaware Figure Skating Club), Olivia Eve Ter (ION Figure Skating Club), Brielle Beyer, Cory Haynos, Edward Zhou (The Skating Club of Northern Virginia). Skaters from these clubs came together in emotional group performances as well. Olympic Champion Ilia Kulik performed to “Nella Fantasia” in honor of his student Olivia Eve Ter. Isabella Aparicio skated for her brother, Franco, and their father, Luciano.

Legacy on Ice Memorial  Event in Washington D.C., March 2, 2025 - ©Melanie Heaney

Each performance lit a light of remembrance, love and hope for those whose lives were cut short by the catastrophe. Sixty-seven passengers and crew members on American Airlines flight 5342 and on the helicopter that collided with it died. Twenty-eight of the people on board belonged to the Figure Skating community, among them young Skaters aged from 11 to 16.  

Legacy on Ice Memorial  Event in Washington D.C., Maxim Naumov, March 2, 2025 - ©Melanie Heaney

Legacy on Ice Memorial  Event in Washington D.C., Molly Cesanek & Yehor Yehorov, March 2, 2025 - ©Melanie Heaney

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), Entertainment Gang, U.S. Figure Skating, NBC Sports and corporate sponsors produced this unique event at the sold out Capital One Arena possible. The two-hour event was streamed live on Peacock for viewers in the USA and on US Figure Skating’s YouTube channel for a worldwide audience. NBC will broadcast an encore of the event on Sunday, March 30 at 1 p.m. ET. 

Proceeds will benefit families of the victims and first responders through the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation’s Legacy on Ice program. For more information please see US Figure Skating and the official event website www.LegacyOnIce.com.