Following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, a plane carrying several members of the figure skating community collided with a helicopter. There are no survivors. The news is incredibly difficult to process, especially given a similar tragedy in our sport’s history.
In 1961, a plane carrying figure skaters and others en route to the World Championships in Prague crashed in Brussels, resulting in no survivors. The skating world lost 18 skaters and 16 coaches, judges, and family members. The impact of this loss continues to resonate with champions even today, nearly 64 years later.
As an Olympic gold medalist, attorney, and member of the U.S. figure skating community, I can attest to the close-knit nature of our sport. While often perceived as intensely competitive, we are, in reality, a family. We compete *with* each other, not just *against* each other. This camaraderie was evident at the recent National Championships, where champion Amber Glenn extended good luck wishes to a fellow competitor. These bonds and shared experiences are fundamental to who we are. This makes the loss of life in Flight 5342 particularly devastating and its impact will be felt for years to come.
Figure skating presents numerous challenges: the constant push to one’s limits, the mental fortitude required, the balance of training with other aspects of life, and the pressure of performing under intense scrutiny. The sport is both exhilarating and humbling, demanding respect among its participants. Some days are great, others less so. But that’s the nature of figure skating.
The term “skating family” is apt. Skaters eat, train, travel, compete, laugh, and cry together, often spending more time with their skating peers than their biological families.
News of the plane crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, involving young skaters, parents, and coaches returning from the National Development Camp, was deeply distressing. This camp, established to support aspiring Team USA members, fosters strong bonds among its participants. The fully in-person 2023 camp received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
The camp, held alongside the National Championships, offered valuable on and off-ice training experiences. For many young athletes, it’s the shared experiences – bus rides, meals, movie nights – that create lasting memories. These are the memories these young skaters were making.
This tragedy’s impact is profoundly difficult to comprehend. Many of my fondest skating memories come from my early competitive years, forming lifelong bonds. I qualified for my first National Championships at 12, a similar age to some of the skaters at the camp. Experiencing these “firsts” – sectionals, international competitions – alongside peers creates unforgettable moments. The loss of these young lives, so full of promise, is incomprehensible. My thoughts are with all those grieving.
Beyond the potential loss of future Olympic champions, this crash affects the heart of figure skating: the relationships, friendships, and shared experiences. In many lives, a cherished time has been irrevocably altered.
U.S. Figure Skating established a memorial fund after the 1961 tragedy, supporting skaters through scholarships, highlighting that skating is more than just the sport itself. The creation of a similar fund in 2025 to aid those affected by this latest tragedy, while unimaginable, is a necessary step for our community.
We are all in mourning—again.