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UPLIFTING SPIRIT OF OLYMPIC SKATER MAXIM NAUMOV

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On 2026-01-12, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9) delivered a floor speech titled "UPLIFTING SPIRIT OF OLYMPIC SKATER MAXIM NAUMOV" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered taxes, China.

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UPLIFTING SPIRIT OF OLYMPIC SKATER MAXIM NAUMOV

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026)] [House] [Pages H649-H650] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] UPLIFTING SPIRIT OF OLYMPIC SKATER MAXIM NAUMOV (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to uplift the inspiring and persevering spirit of our Nation's people, embodied in an extraordinary young American, U.S. Olympic figure skater Maxim Naumov. Despite having endured unspeakable loss, the tragic American Airlines crash over Arlington, Virginia, in January of last year that claimed the lives of both his parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, Maxim stepped onto the ice this past weekend with courage, composure, and grace under pressure. At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, he delivered a powerful short program for 85.72 points, fourth place, and a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. He then spoke with humility and love, paying tribute to his beloved parents who shaped his life. President John F. Kennedy defined true grit as courage, grace under pressure, perseverance in the face of adversity. Maxim personifies that ideal. He teaches us that determination can rise even from the deepest loss and that discipline and artistry can become a language of hope. Bravo, Maxim. Maxim's dedication as a genuine athletic ice artist inspires every young American to a higher purpose. May he stay the course. He makes America proud for his generation. Onward, Maxim. Onward, America. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the article titled: ``Maxim Naumov Credits His Parents, Who Died in DC Plane Crash, For making U.S. Olympic Team: `We Did It Together.''' The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Ohio? There was no objection. [Jan. 12, 2026] Maxim Naumov Credits his Parents, Who Died in DC Plane Crash, for Making US Olympic Team: `We did it Together' (By Drew Weisholtz) Maxim Naumov will represent the United States at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as a member of the figure skating team and will be guided by his late parents, who died a year ago in a plane crash that rocked the figure skating world. Former Olympians Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among those on board an American Airlines plane that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on Jan. 29 last year. Sixty- seven people died in the crash, including 28 members of the figure skating community. Naumov held up a photo of his parents after competing in the men's free skate at the United States Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis on Jan. 10. Naumov, 24, later sat down with Hoda Kotb for an exclusive interview that aired on TODAY Jan. 12. He spoke alongside fellow skaters who were named to Team USA after the championships. ``You were holding the picture of your parents who perished in that plane accident,'' Hoda said to Naumov. ``What were you saying to them from inside?'' ``I was telling them that we did it, and we did it together,'' Naumov said. ``One of the favorite words that you say right now is the word `we.' `We are going to do this.' `We can make it.' `We're going to the Olympics.' It's not just you, is it? ``No, no, I would not be here without them in any capacity,'' he said. Naumov's godmother, Gretta Bogdan, was moved when she saw him receive his Olympic jacket and takes comfort in believing his parents are also beaming. ``Probably one of the best moments of my life,'' she told Hoda. ``I know that his parents are watching down on him, and they're incredibly proud of him, and they know what's happening. They do.'' Naumov has previously spoken about what his parents meant to him and how he dealt with his grief. ``They were beautiful people. They were so incredibly kind,'' he told TODAY in March 2025. ``The only way out is through. There's no other way. There are no options but to keep going. I don't have the strength or the passion or the drive, or the dedication of one person anymore. It's three people.'' The 2026 U.S. figure skating team is a loaded group, headlined by Ilia Malinin, known as ``The Quad God,'' who will be making his Olympics debut. His parents, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, previously skated in the Olympics for Uzbekistan. ``It's just such an honor, and I'm so grateful that (I'm) also just following in my parents' footsteps,'' Malinin said. ``They were two-time Olympians as well, and I'm just so excited to go there.'' Andrew Torgashev is also a son of Olympians and understands the magnitude of his accomplishment. ``To call myself an Olympian is just so surreal. It makes me tear up, actually. It's quite awesome,'' he said. The women's team will feature three current and former U.S. champions in Alyssa Liu, Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn. They will each try to become the first American woman to win gold at the Olympics since Sarah Hughes did so in 2002. ``I think it's great that it's not just one person or singular hope. I think three people go at it--like, someone's going to stick,'' Glenn said while speaking to Hoda alongside Levito and Liu. When Hoda pointed out that the trio represents sisterhood and family, the skaters said it's only natural. ``I mean, I feel like it's kind of normal. I feel almost weird to be praised for--'' Liu said. ``Friendship?'' Glenn finished. ``I think one of the reasons that we all get along so well is because not that many people understand what it takes and understand the ups and downs of such an intense sport like we do,'' she continued. ``And I wouldn't be here without these two ladies.'' Married couple and ice dance duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates are also on a quest to win gold at the Olympics after doing so in a team event in Beijing in 2022. This will mark their fourth Winter Games, which has some people wondering if they plan to call I quits anytime soon. ``You really never know when it's going to be our last, so this season we've been treating everything with respect and care for the moment and trying not to miss any little bit of it,'' Chock said. [[Page H650]] ``We're best friends, and we get to skate together every day, so why would we stop?'' Bates said. Ice dance partners Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko will also compete in their first Olympics, but Ponomarenko is part of a trend: His parents, Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko, are also Olympians. ``Going to the Olympics in the same sport that my parents did, it's unbelievable,'' he said. ``It still hasn't sunk in, to be honest,'' Carreira said. The U.S. figure skating team will feature 16 athletes who will put their best foot forward when the Winter Olympics begin Feb. 6. ____________________

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UPLIFTING SPIRIT OF OLYMPIC SKATER MAXIM NAUMOV Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026)] [House] [Pages H649-H650] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] UPLIFTING SPIRIT OF OLYMPIC SKATER MAXIM NAUMOV (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to uplift the inspiring and persevering spirit of our Nation's people, embodied in an extraordinary young American, U.S. Olympic figure skater Maxim Naumov. Despite having endured unspeakable loss, the tragic American Airlines crash over Arlington, Virginia, in January of last year that claimed the lives of both his parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, Maxim stepped onto the ice this past weekend with courage, composure, and grace under pressure. At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, he delivered a powerful short program for 85.72 points, fourth place, and a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. He then spoke with humility and love, paying tribute to his beloved parents who shaped his life. President John F. Kennedy defined true grit as courage, grace under pressure, perseverance in the face of adversity. Maxim personifies that ideal. He teaches us that determination can rise even from the deepest loss and that discipline and artistry can become a language of hope. Bravo, Maxim. Maxim's dedication as a genuine athletic ice artist inspires every young American to a higher purpose. May he stay the course. He makes America proud for his generation. Onward, Maxim. Onward, America. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the article titled: ``Maxim Naumov Credits His Parents, Who Died in DC Plane Crash, For making U.S. Olympic Team: `We Did It Together.''' The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Ohio? There was no objection. [Jan. 12, 2026] Maxim Naumov Credits his Parents, Who Died in DC Plane Crash, for Making US Olympic Team: `We did it Together' (By Drew Weisholtz) Maxim Naumov will represent the United States at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as a member of the figure skating team and will be guided by his late parents, who died a year ago in a plane crash that rocked the figure skating world. Former Olympians Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among those on board an American Airlines plane that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on Jan. 29 last year. Sixty- seven people died in the crash, including 28 members of the figure skating community. Naumov held up a photo of his parents after competing in the men's free skate at the United States Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis on Jan. 10. Naumov, 24, later sat down with Hoda Kotb for an exclusive interview that aired on TODAY Jan. 12. He spoke alongside fellow skaters who were named to Team USA after the championships. ``You were holding the picture of your parents who perished in that plane accident,'' Hoda said to Naumov. ``What were you saying to them from inside?'' ``I was telling them that we did it, and we did it together,'' Naumov said. ``One of the favorite words that you say right now is the word `we.' `We are going to do this.' `We can make it.' `We're going to the Olympics.' It's not just you, is it? ``No, no, I would not be here without them in any capacity,'' he said. Naumov's godmother, Gretta Bogdan, was moved when she saw him receive his Olympic jacket and takes comfort in believing his parents are also beaming. ``Probably one of the best moments of my life,'' she told Hoda. ``I know that his parents are watching down on him, and they're incredibly proud of him, and they know what's happening. They do.'' Naumov has previously spoken about what his parents meant to him and how he dealt with his grief. ``They were beautiful people. They were so incredibly kind,'' he told TODAY in March 2025. ``The only way out is through. There's no other way. There are no options but to keep going. I don't have the strength or the passion or the drive, or the dedication of one person anymore. It's three people.'' The 2026 U.S. figure skating team is a loaded group, headlined by Ilia Malinin, known as ``The Quad God,'' who will be making his Olympics debut. His parents, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, previously skated in the Olympics for Uzbekistan. ``It's just such an honor, and I'm so grateful that (I'm) also just following in my parents' footsteps,'' Malinin said. ``They were two-time Olympians as well, and I'm just so excited to go there.'' Andrew Torgashev is also a son of Olympians and understands the magnitude of his accomplishment. ``To call myself an Olympian is just so surreal. It makes me tear up, actually. It's quite awesome,'' he said. The women's team will feature three current and former U.S. champions in Alyssa Liu, Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn. They will each try to become the first American woman to win gold at the Olympics since Sarah Hughes did so in 2002. ``I think it's great that it's not just one person or singular hope. I think three people go at it--like, someone's going to stick,'' Glenn said while speaking to Hoda alongside Levito and Liu. When Hoda pointed out that the trio represents sisterhood and family, the skaters said it's only natural. ``I mean, I feel like it's kind of normal. I feel almost weird to be praised for--'' Liu said. ``Friendship?'' Glenn finished. ``I think one of the reasons that we all get along so well is because not that many people understand what it takes and understand the ups and downs of such an intense sport like we do,'' she continued. ``And I wouldn't be here without these two ladies.'' Married couple and ice dance duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates are also on a quest to win gold at the Olympics after doing so in a team event in Beijing in 2022. This will mark their fourth Winter Games, which has some people wondering if they plan to call I quits anytime soon. ``You really never know when it's going to be our last, so this season we've been treating everything with respect and care for the moment and trying not to miss any little bit of it,'' Chock said. [[Page H650]] ``We're best friends, and we get to skate together every day, so why would we stop?'' Bates said. Ice dance partners Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko will also compete in their first Olympics, but Ponomarenko is part of a trend: His parents, Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko, are also Olympians. ``Going to the Olympics in the same sport that my parents did, it's unbelievable,'' he said. ``It still hasn't sunk in, to be honest,'' Carreira said. The U.S. figure skating team will feature 16 athletes who will put their best foot forward when the Winter Olympics begin Feb. 6. ____________________