Nancy Kerrigan’s Emotional Tribute to Fellow Skaters Killed in Washington, DC’s Tragic Collision

Olympic figure skating legend Nancy Kerrigan was overcome with emotion as she spoke publicly about the devastating loss of six US Figure Skating members who perished in the tragic mid-air collision over Washington, DC. The heartbreaking accident, which occurred on Wednesday night, claimed the lives of 67 people as an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter collided over the Potomac River.

The 55-year-old two-time Olympic medalist was visibly shaken as she addressed reporters during a news conference at the Skating Club of Boston on Thursday. Unable to hold back tears, Kerrigan began in a trembling voice, “I just wanted to be here and be part of our community.” 

“I think it’s a shock. … And then when you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it’s … even a bigger blow,” the Olympian added.

Kerrigan’s address ended on a resilient note. “We’ve been through tragedies before as Americans, as people, and we’re strong. I guess it’s how we respond to it and my response is to be with people I care about,” she stated.

14 Young Figure Skaters Onboard

According to Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, 14 of the crash victims had just competed in the US Championships and had participated in a national development camp for young skaters. They were returning from Wichita, Kansas when the accident happened.

Among the fallen were two renowned figure skating coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The husband and wife won the 1994 world championship in pairs skating and were beloved mentors to many of the sport’s rising stars.

Kerrigan recalled their warmth and kindness over the years. “I never worked with them, I mean we were in the Olympics together but the night before I was kind of busy myself and sort of separated from what was going on, but I’ve seen them a lot of times over the years,” she shared. “They were always welcoming and happy to see one another.”

Kerrigan acknowledged that their absence at the Boston Skating Club would be difficult to process. “To walk in here and not see that I think would be very strange for everybody that comes here. It’s going to be hard.”

What Happened in Washington, DC on January 29?

American Airlines flight 5342 was en route to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided mid-air with a military helicopter. There were no survivors. Initial investigations suggest that a combination of human error and systemic issues contributed to the collision. 

As tributes pour in from across the skating world, Nancy Kerrigan’s raw emotions reflect the local community’s immense grief.