The Skating Club of Boston has just swung a triple axel of talent onto Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Maxim Naumov, Spencer Howe, and Emily Chan nailed their spots after a high-stakes skate-off at the U.S. Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri. According to an NBC Boston report, these athletes are part of the 16-member U.S. figure skating delegation, each ready to carve their marks on Olympic ice.
Maxim Naumov, in particular, carries not only his skates but also the legacy of his parents, both former Olympic Russian figure skaters who tragically passed away last year. "I would not be sitting here without the unimaginable work effort and love from my parents," Naumov shared in a heartfelt note. He also added, "It means absolutely everything to me to fulfill the dream we collectively had as a family," in a statement obtained by NBC Boston.
Howe and Chan, a pairs team who train alongside Naumov at the Boston rink, also secured their Olympic berths despite a rocky short program. They turned the tide with a free skate that clinched their place in the upcoming games. "The message I got from this competition is when God wants something for you, he has got it for you and we stayed faithful through the whole process," Howe explained in an interview with NBC Boston. Their faith, it seems, was as solid as the ice they performed on.
Interestingly, not all glimmers in the skating rink led to Olympic gold—the current U.S. champs, Misha Mistrofanov and Alisa Efimova, won't join their peers in Milan due to passport snafus tied to Efimova's immigration status. But for those heading to Italy, it's a quick breather before revving up their training for the competition, which begins on February 6, as per Boston 25 News.
In addition to Naumov, Howe and Chan, other American skaters set to compete include Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito, and Alysa Liu in the women's category, and Ilia Malinin and Andrew Torgashev joining Naumov in the men's. The pairs team of Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea round out the pairs lineup, ensuring a robust and diverse team representing the red, white, and blue. Naumov, particularly moved by his selection, shared with Boston 25 News, "My parents, what we talked about and how much we discussed this through my entire life, and how much it means to us, and how much the Olympics is part of our family. I thought of them immediately. I wish they could be here to experience it with me, but I do feel their presence, and they are with me."
.jpg){kind=link}