"Shishkova/Naumov were champions in life" Gregory/Petukhov mourn plane crash victims｜Figure Skating

U.S. skaters Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, who competed at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics and said they had known Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov for nearly 30 years, recalled in interview that they had spent holidays together at their house. Petukhov also choregraphed a program for their son son Maxim Naumov when he was younger. “As people, they were absolutely remarkable,” Denis Petukhov said. “They were not only the world champions, but they were also champions in life. They were always polite, always inspiring.” Gregory recalled meeting them when Petukhov and her started training in Connecticut and later they become part of their “daily lives” as they all shifted into coaching. “They were wonderful people. They were amazing parents, excellent coaches,” Gregory said. “We had, utmost respect for them. And it's just a devastating tragedy. And, you know, as the news keeps coming in, more and more, we have heard that there's more people that was on the flight that we were, that we knew that were colleagues of ours and it's very upsetting.”