Former Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan reflects on tragic plane crash: ‘It hurts so much’

NORWOOD, Mass. (Gray News/AP) - Two teenage figure skaters, their mothers, and two former world champions who were coaching at a historic Boston club were among the 14 of the skating community killed when an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter Wednesday night and crashed into the frigid waters of the Potomac River.

Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe said Thursday that skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane were among those killed, along with 1994 pairs world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of Russia.

“I’ve never seen anyone love skating as much as these two, and that’s why I think it hurts so much,” said former Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan.

In all, 14 of the victims were coming back from a national development camp for promising young skaters following the U.S. Championships in Wichita, Kansas, Zeghibe said.

Considered one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, the Skating Club of Boston produced Olympic and world champions Dick Button and Tenley Albright, Olympic medalists Nancy Kerrigan and Paul Wylie, and many U.S. champions, with Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov winning the pairs in Wichita just last week.

“We came here because we needed to be together,” 1956 Olympic champion Tenley Albright said while standing in a rink outside Boston that is named for her. “We’re family, and it’s a community and the skaters — the people who were on that plane — they’re our family, too."

“The kids here really work hard,” Kerrigan said. “Their parents work hard to be here, but I just, I feel for the athletes, the skaters, their families, but anyone that was on that plane, not just the skaters, um, because it’s just such a tragic event.”

U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement:

“We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends and coaches, are understood to be among those on board. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.”

Kerrigan went on to explain that you don’t have to know everyone in the figure skating community to feel a connection.

She said just knowing you’ve been through the same rigorous training and schedule of falling over and over again fuels an immediate bond.

“I learned in skating is you get back up, keep on trying, and even when it’s hard, you get back up, even when you’re crying, hurt, pain, you get back up. And move forward. It’s not easy, but that’s what we all have to do now together,” Kerrigan said.

A table that had been filled with messages wishing all of the skaters luck in Wichita was replaced midday by one with framed pictures of Lane, Han and the coaches. In front of the photos were lit candles; behind them, six white roses stood in six simple vases.

“I’m heartbroken by the tragic loss of my fellow skaters in this devastating accident,” said reigning world champion Ilia Malinin, who won his third consecutive national title in Wichita. “The figure skating community is a family, and this loss is beyond words.”

The U.S. Figure Skating and Massachusetts flags were lowered to half-staff outside the century-old club’s newly built rink on Thursday. Flower deliveries arrived at the reception desk, while visitors were greeted with long and tearful hugs.

“Today, the world of figure skating is heartbroken,” International Skating Union President Jae Youl Kim said. ”We share our deepest, most sincere condolences with the families and friends of all those who lost their lives in this terrible crash. To lose so many of our community in this way brings sadness beyond words.”

The Federal Aviation istration is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, which killed all 64 people on board the American Airlines flight and all three soldiers in the Black Hawk helicopter.