Figure skating legend Nancy Kerrigan broke down in tears over the talented local skaters whose lives were lost in the tragic collision of an American Airlines plane and military helicopter in Washington, DC.
“We’ve been through tragedies before as Americans, as people, and we’re strong. I guess it’s how we respond to it and my response is to be with people I care about,” Kerrigan said through tears during a news conference Thursday at the Skating Club of Boston.
Six of the US Figure Skating members killed in the fiery collision Wednesday night were affiliated with the club, according to executive director Doug Zeghibe.
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“I needed support, so that’s why I’m here,” an emotional Kerrigan, who won Olympic bronze in 1992 and silver in 1994, told reporters.
“I think it’s a shock,” she said, later adding, “And then when you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it’s … even a bigger blow.”
Kerrigan was joined by 1956 gold medalist Tenley Albright, who said she couldn’t help but be reminded of a 1961 plane crash that left 18 members of the national team dead.
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“There were really 22 of my friends on that plane in 1961 on their way to the world championships,” Albright said. “And I remember years later, people looking at me very strangely. … ‘Weren’t you on that plane?’ And I wish the ones that were on that plane weren’t. And I don’t know how to handle this.”
Kerrigan, while wiping tears from her eyes, noted she’d been watching news coverage of the collision all night.
She then gave well wishes to the families going through the tragedy, noting she doesn’t know how people manage to stay so strong and courageous through tragedies like this.
“Each one of them are strong enough to get through this somehow. It will take time but look beside you, there’s somebody that cares…and tell people around you that you love them,” she added.
Kerrigan then touched on the two coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were killed in the horrific crash.
“I never worked with them, I mean we were in the Olympics together but the night before I was kind of busy myself and sort of separated from what was going on, but I’ve seen them a lot of times over the years,” she said. “Everything you’ve heard about them maybe being a little tough but with a smile on their faces.”
“They were always welcoming and happy to see one another,” she said, wiping a tear. “To walk in here and not see that I think would be very strange for everybody that comes here. It’s going to be hard.”
Kerrigan noted they’d gathered at the skate club to be there for each other and for Zehibe.
