31-01-2025
‘We all have some sort of connection': Tidewater figure skaters react to DC crash
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — It's times like these when having a close-knit community is both a blessing and a curse.
A curse, because upon hearing the origin of American Eagle flight 5342, Jill Stewart, Tidewater Figure Skating Club's skating director, knew she'd likely know, or know of, victims.
A blessing, because she knows the figure skating community will 'rise.'
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'We have, all the coaches on my staff, have some sort of a connection to someone who was on that plane last night,' Stewart said.
The Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championship, the final qualifier for the U.S. World and Junior Championship teams, concluded Sunday in Wichita and was immediately followed by the National Development Camp.
It was confirmed early Thursday that a dozen or more elite figure skaters were onboard.
'I had someone from U.S. figure skating 'cause I've done some work with them as well, and she just relocated to England. She sent me a text this morning to see if we were OK,' Stewart said.
While none of the students Stewart coaches attended this year, she said one 12-year-old is in the pipeline to attend next year.
'His mom messaged me this morning saying his text messages were blowing up because a lot of the friends that he has skated with and has gone to events with were on that flight last night,' Stewart said. 'It's a very close-knit community.'
This is not the first air tragedy in the U.S. figure skating community.
The 18-member U.S. team that was set to compete in the world championships in Prague died when Sabena Flight 548 crashed on Feb. 15, 1961, in Berg-Kampenhout, about 45 minutes outside of Brussels.
Six U.S. coaches and four skating officials, along with some family members, also died.
'It's kind of déjà vu, but our community will rally,' Stewart said. 'We're very supportive of each other and and we will rise. I just feel that, hopefully, when the impact happened, it happened very quickly and they didn't suffer.'
The Tidewater Figure Skating Club meets at Chilled Ponds in both Chesapeake and Yorktown as well as Iceland of Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach.
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