Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were born in Leningrad. They skated together in pairs for the national teams of the USSR and Russia and won the World Championship in 1994.

They went to the US in 1998 and became coaches. The couple was said to be coming back from the tournament and traveling with a group of young skaters.

Maxim, who came in fourth in the race in Wichita, is said to have left Kansas with US figure skater Anton Spiridonov on Monday.

‘I wasn’t on the flight. People I knew, I think, were,’ Spiridonov said. ‘Maxim Naumov was not on board – he left Wichita on Monday.

‘He was at the airport with me, going through security at the same time.’

Yet, Maxim’s parents agreed, Spiridonov said.

Skating fans have shared emotional messages on Maxim and his parents’ social media today.

Maxim, who was coached by his parents, once said, ‘I want to thank my parents and my sister who opened the door [to figure skating].’