Latest news with #JinnaHan
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Frozen in time': figure skating world unites in grief and tribute at Boston world championships
Boston mayor Michelle Wu speaks during a ceremony at the world figure skating championships on Wednesday to honor the victims of the American Eagle flight 5342 crash on 29 January in Washington DC. Photograph:The lights dimmed, the arena fell silent and a sport took a collective breath. On Wednesday night at TD Garden, the world figure skating championships paused between events for something far more profound than medals or scores: a solemn tribute to the 28 members of the skating community who died in January when American Eagle flight 5342 crashed into the Potomac River. Held after the women's short program and before the start of the pairs' short program, the ceremony honored the skaters, coaches and parents who were returning from a development camp held in conjunction with the US figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas. Advertisement Flight 5342 had lifted off from a wintry runway in southeast Kansas, carrying dozens of young skaters, their coaches and parents who had just attended a US Figure Skating development camp following nationals. Many had posted about what they'd learned – new jumps, spins, friendships. They never got the chance to bring that energy home. On final approach to Washington DC, the regional jet collided with a military helicopter, killing all 67 people aboard. Schedule All times EST. Wed 26 Mar • Women's Short, 12.05pm (Peacock) • Women's Short, 3pm (USA Network) • Remembrance Ceremony, 6.15pm (Peacock) Advertisement • Pairs' Short, 6.45pm (Peacock) Thu 27 Mar • Men's Short, 11.05am (Peacock) • Men's Short, 3pm (USA Network) • Pairs' Free, 6.15pm (Peacock) • Pairs' Free, 8pm (USA Network) Fri 28 Mar • Rhythm Dance, 11.15am (Peacock) • Rhythm Dance, 3pm (USA Network) • Women's Free, 6pm (Peacock) • Women's Free, 8pm (NBC/Peacock) Sat 29 Mar • Free Dance, 1.30pm (Peacock) • Free Dance, 3pm (USA Network) • Men's Free, 6pm (Peacock) • Men's Free, 8pm (NBC/Peacock) Sun 30 Mar • Exhibition Gala, 2pm (Peacock) How to watch outside the US United Kingdom As of last year, Premier Sports holds the broadcasting rights for the World Figure Skating Championships in the UK, with coverage extending until 2028. To watch the championships, you'll need a subscription to Premier Sports, which offers live coverage of the events. You can subscribe through their official website or via certain TV providers that include Premier Sports in their packages. Advertisement Australia SBS provides live and free coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships in Australia through SBS On Demand. Among the victims were two young athletes from Boston – Jinna Han, 13, and Spencer Lane, 16 – their mothers, along with revered Olympic coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The tragedy cut across generations and geographies: 11 of the dead were skaters between the ages of 11 and 16. The city of Boston, long a historic hub for American skating, became its emotional epicenter. Related: 'Our youngest and brightest': grief of DC plane crash rocks figure skating community 'Someone once told me time is a great healer,' said International Skating Union president Jae Youl Kim during the memorial. 'But for those who have experienced deep loss, we know that time does not simply erase pain. For many of us, it feels like we are frozen in time.' Advertisement Doug Lane, whose son Spencer and wife Christine were among those killed, stood before a hushed crowd of thousands at TD Garden and offered a message that blended grief with resolve. 'They haven't really invented the vocabulary to talk about the grief that we're all feeling,' Lane said. 'So what I thought I would do with my time today is share a few thoughts of hope.' He called on the audience to support the young skaters who are still here – those who are grieving and still lacing up their skates each day. 'They're hurting,' he said. 'I hope we can support them in their skating journeys, but I also hope we can help them find paths of happiness and impact off the ice as well.' Lane also addressed the systemic failures that may have led to the crash. 'Even a layperson like me can easily identify the breakdowns that allowed this to happen,' he said. 'But rather than look for blame, I hope we can work with our elected officials to make air travel safer for everyone.' Advertisement The 20-minute tribute included a video montage of the victims, poetry read by US Figure Skating's interim CEO Sam Auxier, before concluding with live performance from Boston's Coro Allegro Choir. Massachusetts governor Maura Healey and Boston mayor Michelle Wu both addressed the gathering. The audience, including many moved to tears, rose for a standing ovation when it finished. At the renowned Skating Club of Boston, which produced such champions as Dick Button, Tenley Albright and Nancy Kerrigan and where the six local victims trained and taught, an impromptu memorial remains: two folding chairs that once belonged to Jinna Han and Spencer Lane are now covered in cards, flowers, photos, and stuffed animals. The space is roped off – not by the club, but by the skaters themselves. 'The kids insisted,' said Doug Zeghibe, the club's chief executive. 'It's their way of keeping Spencer and Jinna close.' Earlier this month, a gala tribute in Washington DC brought generations of figure skating stars together. Legacy on Ice featured performances by Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano, Amber Glenn and reigning world champion Ilia Malinin. Thirteen-year-old Isabella Aparicio skated in honor of her father and brother, Franco and Luciano, who were killed. Max Naumov – whose parents, Shishkova and Naumov, died in the crash – performed in their memory. Advertisement Related: Alysa Liu vaults to shock lead at figure skating worlds with statement program 'They're not here right now, but they'll always be here,' Naumov told NBC Sports. 'It's not just me anymore. It's our family. I have the strength of two other people with me forever.' The Washington gala raised more than $1.2m for victims' families and first responders. Malinin, too, has spoken openly about how the crash affected him. Several of the young skaters killed trained at the same rink as the 20-year-old US champion. 'Now I'll always have them in my head and in my heart,' Malinin said. 'This worlds, I really want to dedicate to everyone on that flight. I want to give my all in that performance and really make it special for them.' Advertisement Though grief was front and center on Wednesday night, the world championships now turn toward the ice. The event also serves as a critical qualifying step toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, with national quotas on the line and international rivalries heating up – even as one of skating's most dominant nations remains sidelined. Russian skaters are still barred from international competition due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year. Malinin enters as the overwhelming favorite in the men's event. Known as the Quad God for his boundary-pushing jumps, he's looking to defend his world title on home ice. His challengers include France's Adam Siao Him Fa and Japan's Yuma Kagiyama. In the women's event, the Japanese star Kaori Sakamoto's bid for a fourth straight world title hit a snag earlier Wednesday when she finished the short program in fifth place behind surprise leader Alysa Liu, back on the world championships stage following a two-year retirement. American Amber Glenn, who entered Boston undefeated this season, was ninth after falling on her opening triple Axel, but honored the crash victims by holding up a T-shirt emblazoned with their names during her post-skate interview. The pairs field remains wide open, and in ice dance, Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates are seeking a third consecutive world title. That would mark the first three-peat at worlds in the discipline in 28 years. Advertisement Still, for many, these world championships will never be just about competition. 'The kids are back on the ice,' Zeghibe said. 'But they're skating with a deeper purpose.' The lights came up harshly after the tribute. The music swelled and the competition resumed. But for those who lost friends, coaches and teammates this winter, the ice will never quite feel the same. 'February was hard,' as Zeghibe put it. 'March has been a little better. And it's all our hope that April will be better still.'
The Guardian
27-03-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘Frozen in time': figure skating world unites in grief and tribute at Boston world championships
The lights dimmed, the arena fell silent and a sport took a collective breath. On Wednesday night at TD Garden, the world figure skating championships paused between events for something far more profound than medals or scores: a solemn tribute to the 28 members of the skating community who died in January when American Eagle flight 5342 crashed into the Potomac River. Held after the women's short program and before the start of the pairs' short program, the ceremony honored the skaters, coaches and parents who were returning from a development camp held in conjunction with the US figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas. Flight 5342 had lifted off from a wintry runway in southeast Kansas, carrying dozens of young skaters, their coaches and parents who had just attended a US Figure Skating development camp following nationals. Many had posted about what they'd learned – new jumps, spins, friendships. They never got the chance to bring that energy home. On final approach to Washington DC, the regional jet collided with a military helicopter, killing all 67 people aboard. Schedule All times EST. Wed 26 Mar • Women's Short, 12.05pm (Peacock) • Women's Short, 3pm (USA Network) • Remembrance Ceremony, 6.15pm (Peacock) • Pairs' Short, 6.45pm (Peacock) Thu 27 Mar • Men's Short, 11.05am (Peacock) • Men's Short, 3pm (USA Network) • Pairs' Free, 6.15pm (Peacock) • Pairs' Free, 8pm (USA Network) Fri 28 Mar • Rhythm Dance, 11.15am (Peacock) • Rhythm Dance, 3pm (USA Network) • Women's Free, 6pm (Peacock) • Women's Free, 8pm (NBC/Peacock) Sat 29 Mar • Free Dance, 1.30pm (Peacock) • Free Dance, 3pm (USA Network) • Men's Free, 6pm (Peacock) • Men's Free, 8pm (NBC/Peacock) Sun 30 Mar • Exhibition Gala, 2pm (Peacock) How to watch outside the US United Kingdom As of last year, Premier Sports holds the broadcasting rights for the World Figure Skating Championships in the UK, with coverage extending until 2028. To watch the championships, you'll need a subscription to Premier Sports, which offers live coverage of the events. You can subscribe through their official website or via certain TV providers that include Premier Sports in their packages. Australia SBS provides live and free coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships in Australia through SBS On Demand. Among the victims were two young athletes from Boston – Jinna Han, 13, and Spencer Lane, 16 – their mothers, along with revered Olympic coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The tragedy cut across generations and geographies: 11 of the dead were skaters between the ages of 11 and 16. The city of Boston, long a historic hub for American skating, became its emotional epicenter. 'Someone once told me time is a great healer,' said International Skating Union president Jae Youl Kim during the memorial. 'But for those who have experienced deep loss, we know that time does not simply erase pain. For many of us, it feels like we are frozen in time.' Doug Lane, whose son Spencer and wife Christine were among those killed, stood before a hushed crowd of thousands at TD Garden and offered a message that blended grief with resolve. 'They haven't really invented the vocabulary to talk about the grief that we're all feeling,' Lane said. 'So what I thought I would do with my time today is share a few thoughts of hope.' He called on the audience to support the young skaters who are still here – those who are grieving and still lacing up their skates each day. 'They're hurting,' he said. 'I hope we can support them in their skating journeys, but I also hope we can help them find paths of happiness and impact off the ice as well.' Lane also addressed the systemic failures that may have led to the crash. 'Even a layperson like me can easily identify the breakdowns that allowed this to happen,' he said. 'But rather than look for blame, I hope we can work with our elected officials to make air travel safer for everyone.' The 20-minute tribute included a video montage of the victims, poetry read by US Figure Skating's interim CEO Sam Auxier, before concluding with live performance from Boston's Coro Allegro Choir. Massachusetts governor Maura Healey and Boston mayor Michelle Wu both addressed the gathering. The audience, including many moved to tears, rose for a standing ovation when it finished. At the renowned Skating Club of Boston, which produced such champions as Dick Button, Tenley Albright and Nancy Kerrigan and where the six local victims trained and taught, an impromptu memorial remains: two folding chairs that once belonged to Jinna Han and Spencer Lane are now covered in cards, flowers, photos, and stuffed animals. The space is roped off – not by the club, but by the skaters themselves. 'The kids insisted,' said Doug Zeghibe, the club's chief executive. 'It's their way of keeping Spencer and Jinna close.' Earlier this month, a gala tribute in Washington DC brought generations of figure skating stars together. Legacy on Ice featured performances by Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano, Amber Glenn and reigning world champion Ilia Malinin. Thirteen-year-old Isabella Aparicio skated in honor of her father and brother, Franco and Luciano, who were killed. Max Naumov – whose parents, Shishkova and Naumov, died in the crash – performed in their memory. 'They're not here right now, but they'll always be here,' Naumov told NBC Sports. 'It's not just me anymore. It's our family. I have the strength of two other people with me forever.' The Washington gala raised more than $1.2m for victims' families and first responders. Malinin, too, has spoken openly about how the crash affected him. Several of the young skaters killed trained at the same rink as the 20-year-old US champion. 'Now I'll always have them in my head and in my heart,' Malinin said. 'This worlds, I really want to dedicate to everyone on that flight. I want to give my all in that performance and really make it special for them.' Though grief was front and center on Wednesday night, the world championships now turn toward the ice. The event also serves as a critical qualifying step toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, with national quotas on the line and international rivalries heating up – even as one of skating's most dominant nations remains sidelined. Russian skaters are still barred from international competition due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year. Malinin enters as the overwhelming favorite in the men's event. Known as the Quad God for his boundary-pushing jumps, he's looking to defend his world title on home ice. His challengers include France's Adam Siao Him Fa and Japan's Yuma Kagiyama. In the women's event, the Japanese star Kaori Sakamoto's bid for a fourth straight world title hit a snag earlier Wednesday when she finished the short program in fifth place behind surprise leader Alysa Liu, back on the world championships stage following a two-year retirement. American Amber Glenn, who entered Boston undefeated this season, was ninth after falling on her opening triple Axel, but honored the crash victims by holding up a T-shirt emblazoned with their names during her post-skate interview. The pairs field remains wide open, and in ice dance, Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates are seeking a third consecutive world title. That would mark the first three-peat at worlds in the discipline in 28 years. Still, for many, these world championships will never be just about competition. 'The kids are back on the ice,' Zeghibe said. 'But they're skating with a deeper purpose.' The lights came up harshly after the tribute. The music swelled and the competition resumed. But for those who lost friends, coaches and teammates this winter, the ice will never quite feel the same. 'February was hard,' as Zeghibe put it. 'March has been a little better. And it's all our hope that April will be better still.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tributes for skaters killed in midair collision planned at figure skating championships in Boston
Emotions are expected to run high as Boston plays host to the World Figure Skating Championships. The competition begins at TD Garden on Wednesday and runs through Sunday. This is the first time the Skating Club of Boston has hosted the World Figure Skating Championships since 2016. In January two skaters, their mothers, and two coaches connected to the club were killed when an American Airlines jet collided with a Blackhawk helicopter while landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine Lane were on an American Airlines flight coming back from a national development skating camp in Wichita, Kansas when their plane collided with an Army helicopter, killing everyone on board. 13-year-old Jinna Han from Mansfield and her mother along with renowned Russian figure skating coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumo were the other four connected to the club. 'Horrific tragedy': 6 people with ties to Mass. figure skating club killed in midair collision Doug Zeghibe, CEO and executive director of the Skating Club of Boston called Spencer Lane and Jinna Han the 'future of the sport' of figure skating. Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov joined the Skating Club of Boston as coaches in 2017, according to Zeghibe. A total of 28 members of the figure skating community were killed in the collision. The President of the International Skating Union said those killed in the crash will be honored on Wednesday with a tribute and remembrance. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Washington Post
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
The Boston skating community hosts the world championships even as it mourns plane crash victims
NORWOOD, Mass. — The chairs where Jinna Han and Spencer Lane used to sit are still there, and covered with gifts: cards and cookies, plants and pictures — anything that might have sparked a connection for their friends and fellow skaters. Photographs, drawings, a South Korean flag, hearts cut from construction paper or bent out of pipe cleaners and so many stuffed animals that they are in danger of spilling off the white plastic folding chairs just like all of the others in the hallway outside the main rink at the Skating Club of Boston.
Reuters
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Skating-Tight-knit US skating community mourns 'bright future' after loss of young stars
Item 1 of 3 White roses stand in tribute at the Skating Club of Boston, home to athletes Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, and coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, all of whom died in the crash of American Eagle flight 5342 in Washington, DC, in Norwood, Massachusetts, U.S., January 30, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - In one of his last TikTok posts before boarding a doomed flight to Washington, 16-year-old Spencer Lane shared with his 47,000 followers a video of a silky smooth triple toe loop he nailed at U.S. National Development Camp in Wichita. It was the sort of move that had earned him his crown as U.S. figure skating's 2025 intermediate sectionals champion, making him one of the top prospects in the sport. As the personalities and ambitions of the young athletes killed on the flight that crashed in Washington came into clearer focus, the close-knit community of American figure skating mourned the loss of its future stars. "These Olympic hopefuls represented the bright future of Team USA, embodying the very essence of what it means to represent our country - perseverance, resilience, and hope," United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said in a statement. "They were remarkable young people and talents, passionately pursuing their dreams, and they will forever hold a cherished place in Team USA family." Lane, whose mother was also on the flight, had taken up figure skating just three years ago after watching Nathan Chen win Olympic gold in 2022, and was already widely liked and admired across the sport. Doug Zeghibe, the executive director of the Skating Club of Boston, where he trained, described him as "highly talented, incredibly talented. He had not been skating that long and was rocketing to the top of the sport." Thirteen-year-old Jinna Han also trained at the Boston club. She was fourth in novice women at the Eastern sectionals. Her mother was also on board. Skating sisters Everly and Alydia Livingston, 11 and 14, died in the crash with their parents Donna and Peter. It is not the first time the tight-knit community has been rocked by tragedy. In 1961, the entire U.S. team of 18 skaters as well as several coaches and others died when a flight crashed taking them to Europe for the World Championships. Among them were nine-times U.S. champion Maribel Vinson-Owen and her two champion daughters Maribel and Laurence Owen. Laurence, fresh from capturing gold at the U.S. championships at the age of 16, had appeared two days earlier on the cover of Sports Illustrated, smiling in a red skating dress. Her older sister had recently won the pairs title. On Thursday retired U.S. Olympian Nancy Kerrigan headed to the Skating Club of Boston -- her home club -- to offer her support. "I'm not sure how to process it, which is why I'm here," Kerrigan said as she struggled to fight back tears. "We just wanted to be here and be part of our community." Another famed alumnus from the Boston club was double Olympic gold medalist-turned-broadcaster Dick Button, who also died on Thursday at the age of 95, unrelated to the crash. "The two-time Olympic champion's pioneering style and award-winning television commentary revolutionized figure skating," U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. "His legacy will live on forever."
