Maxim Naumov talks to the Globe about his emotional Olympic journey and how he plans to remain in the world of figure skating

Maxim Naumov is not closing the door on competitive figure skating just yet.

The 2026 Olympian, who calls The Skating Club of Boston in Norwood home, did not appear on the Grand Prix of Figure Skating assignments released this summer. In an exclusive interview with the Globe this week, Naumov said he has not decided what his future in the sport will look like.

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“As for competing, I still love being on the ice, and I want to keep challenging myself,” said Naumov. “I’m taking things one step at a time and making decisions that feel right both physically and mentally.”

Naumov became one of the captivating stories of February’s Milan-Cortina Games after making the United States team less than a year after the death of his parents, 1994 pairs world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, in the collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and a US Army helicopter in Washington, D.C. Shishkova and Naumov were two of six members of The Skating Club of Boston community who perished.

After making the Olympic team by finishing third at the 2026 US Figure Skating Championships, Naumov finished 20th at Milan-Cortina, including 14th in the short program — a substantial feat considering he had never competed at a senior world championships.

But as the 2026-27 competitive season begins next week at the Cranberry Cup International at The Skating Club of Boston, Naumov said he’s “spending more time coaching” than skating.

“I’m giving back to the sport that’s given me so much,” he said.

Most of that coaching has taken place with Tomorrow’s Champions, an elite training program his parents founded for some of The Skating Club of Boston’s youngest students. He took over as director shortly after the deaths of his parents. His young protégés were proud not just of his Olympic performance, but that he met Cookie Monster after his competition ended.

“What I’ve enjoyed most is getting to know each athlete beyond their skating,” said Naumov. “We talk about working hard, handling setbacks, believing in yourself, and finding joy in the process instead of focusing only on results. If I can help even one skater leave the rink feeling a little more confident than when they arrived, that’s a really rewarding day for me.”

Naumov also is riding the wave of his Olympic-related popularity. Two weeks ago, he was announced as a participant in the Fox reality show “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” which begins its fifth season on Sept. 24.

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The show sees a variety of celebrities and athletes take part in military-style challenges. He is the first figure skater to participate in the show, which was filmed in Malaysia in the late spring. (Contractual obligations keep Naumov from speaking about his participation until the show is closer to airing.)

Another opportunity Naumov recently received was appearing in PBS’s longtime special “A Capitol Fourth,” alongside other Winter Olympians. He was just one of two figure skaters to participate.

“Even though our journeys are all different, we share a commitment to representing something bigger than ourselves,” said Naumov.

Representing the United States at the Olympics was a lifetime goal Naumov still can’t believe he achieved. So many moments from his time in Milan-Cortina stand out, and he has stories he doesn’t tire of telling.

“I went to a hockey game that ended pretty late,” said Naumov. “It was around 1 a.m. and I figured I’d take advantage of the fact that the Olympic Village cafeteria was open 24-7. I sat down with a bowl of cereal, and a few minutes later the entire US men’s hockey team walked in. They grabbed their food and ended up sitting just a couple of tables away from me. As someone who grew up watching hockey, it was one of those pinch-me moments where you have to remind yourself that this is actually real.”

The realities of the past two years — the devastation alongside the achievement of dreams — were a lot for Naumov. He also knows skating is where he belongs, so there is no doubt it will remain in his life.

“I know I will continue to be involved, whether that’s through competition, coaching, or finding new ways to contribute to the sport,” he said.

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