Elite figure skaters perform in Wilmette to honor victims of DC plane crash

Yahoo

09-03-2025

WILMETTE, Ill. – A memorial event to honor the victims killed in the deadly mid-air collision in Washington, D.C. brought together elite figure skating athletes from around the country.
'I think we're all just taking the time to really skate for those really talented athletes and just take the extra couple minutes to perform for them,' Brooke Gewalt, a Team USA Figure Skater, said.
On Saturday, the emotional performances, which included singles, pairs, and synchronized skating, were held at the Wilmette Centennial Ice Rinks, honoring the 28 members of the U.S. Figure Skating community who lost their lives on American Eagle Flight 5342.
Among those killed were four coaches and 11 talented figure skaters returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and training camp in Wichita, Kansas. Most, if not all, of the athletes who came together for Saturday's event were also there in late January.
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'It's horrific really, isn't it, that we're having to do this. But it's an absolute honor to be asked to be involved,' Chris Howarth, the event's commentator, and a former British Olympian, said.
The loss of their friends and coaches they came to know through the sport, was something many said words can't fully portray.
'It's just a whole other level to the tragedy and you don't realize how raw something is until you live it yourself,' Ethan Peal said.
On Saturday, Ethan and sister Elliana Peal performed an emotional tribute to 'Rise Up' by Andra Day. The Team USA ice dancers and junior silver medalists grew up in the Chicago area before moving to Nashville, TN, where they currently train.
'It's great coming together to rise up from this horrible tragedy and to find peace and community within,' Elliana said.
Alexandr 'Sasha' Kirsanov, a beloved figure skating coach, was among the victims killed. The Peal siblings knew Sasha personally and saw him for the last time in Wichita.
'He was such a friendly and kind soul and gave us advice. To just go from talking to someone and then a few days later, they're gone, it's awful,' Ethan said.
Gewalt said she knew one of the victims, Sean Kay, who was killed in the crash along with his mother. Many of the athletes she connected with on social media and said she looked up to them.
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'Though it's a competitive sport, I feel like we're all friends and we all know each other, and we're all supportive of each other, and we're all there for each other too,' Gewalt said.
Along the ice Saturday were 28 candles – one for each victim in the U.S. Figure Skating community – and a solemn reminder as performers expressed their emotions and message through their artistry.
'Figure skating is a real community, and there's a real sense of loss, and this is just an opportunity for people to get together and be as one and try and make things better, though you can't, but try and help where you can,' Howarth said.
The proceeds from Saturday's event will go directly to the families impacted. A silent auction was also held.
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