‘I Was Feeling Their Presence.’ Maxim Naumov on Skating in the Olympics After His Parents’ Deaths

There is always pressure for athletes competing at the Olympics, but for Max Naumov, all of that melted away before he took to the ice for the men’s short program at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 10.

“This competition felt totally different,” he told TIME following a practice session two days after the event. “Obviously the stakes are high and it’s the biggest stage, but in all honesty, I felt calm and comfortable.”

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Naumov lost his parents...