On January 30, 2025, American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a military helicopter on approach to the Potomac River, sending shockwaves of sorrow through United States figure skating. It was so sudden; the first reaction was disbelief and deep sorrow at the loss of skaters, coaches, and parents.
Shortly following, one question became evident: How do we honor their memory? As Kristi Yamaguchi, 1992 Olympic gold medalist, expressed, “As skaters, we learn to express our emotions through artistry.”
In response, on Sunday, the skating community gathered at Capital One Arena for a tribute lasting two hours entitled “Legacy on Ice.” The emotionally charged event paid tribute to the 67 lives lost in the January 29 tragedy while raising funds to support the affected families and first responders.
This horrible flight claimed the lives of 28 young figure skaters, their coaches, and family members half of those aboard the ill-fated flight near Washington Reagan National Airport.
2022 Olympic team gold medalist Evan Bates said, “Everyone grieves in their own way, and the last month has been really challenging for all of us to just grapple with the magnitude of this loss.”
He added, “I think coming together today and doing something tangible, like a show, will give people hopefully a little glimmer of hope and a little light for that next step forward.”
The evening included many of the most renowned names in American figure skating, co-hosted by Yamaguchi and 1988 Olympic champion Brian Boitano alongside 1968 gold medalist Peggy Fleming.
The arena came alive with performances by Olympic and World champions including Nathan Chen and Ilia Malinin, as well as beloved retired skaters such as the National Broadcast Company (NBC) analyst Johnny Weir.
Overall, more than 40 skaters with Team USA affiliation were present, featuring medalists from eight different Winter Olympic Games.