Hi, I’m Maxim Naumov, a U.S. figure skater, and I want to share something personal.
After losing both of my parents in the crash of Flight 5342, I’ve had to learn how to navigate grief, pressure, and expectation — not just as a person, but as an athlete who’s still expected to show up, perform, and stay strong.
If you’ve followed my skating, you know I wear my heart on the ice. What people don’t always see is what happens off the ice — the anxiety, the emotional weight, and the silence that so many athletes carry.
Behind every medal and performance is a human being dealing with pressure, fear, ambition, and sometimes loss.
I’ve learned that mental resilience isn’t something athletes are born with — it’s something they build. And too many young athletes are trying to build it alone.
That’s why I’m starting this initiative — to help raise awareness around mental wellness in sports and begin building resources that support athletes not just physically, but emotionally.
The Vision
This campaign supports the early development of a mental wellness platform and set of resources designed to help athletes:
- Talk openly about mental health
- Build confidence and emotional resilience
- Navigate pressure, setbacks, and identity
- Feel supported — not isolated
The long-term goal is to create programming and partnerships that bring these conversations and tools directly to young athletes and their communities.
Why This Matters
Athletes are taught how to train their bodies — but rarely how to care for their minds.
Anxiety, burnout, and emotional stress are becoming more common in sports, yet many athletes feel they have to handle it alone.
My own journey — through competition, expectation, and loss — showed me how powerful support, language, and understanding can be.
If we can change how athletes think about mental wellness, we can change the culture of sport.
How Your Support Helps
Funds raised will be used to support early, phased development, including:
- Consulting with licensed mental health professionals and sports psychologists
- Creating educational and awareness-focused resources (digital and written)
- Planning pilot conversations, workshops, and community outreach
- Covering legal and administrative preparation for responsible growth
- Building platforms to share stories and reduce stigma around mental wellness
Every contribution helps move this vision forward — thoughtfully and responsibly.
A Phased, Responsible Approach
This initiative is being built step by step, with care and professional guidance. As it grows, I’ll continue sharing updates so supporters can follow the progress and impact.
How You Can Help
If you believe:
- Mental wellness should matter as much as physical training
- Young athletes deserve tools to handle pressure and adversity
- Open conversation can change lives
Please consider donating or sharing this campaign. Every bit of support means more than you know.
Thank You
This project comes from a deeply personal place. Please share. Even one repost or share helps this movement grow. I’ll be sharing updates, events, and stories as we build this together. Thank you for believing in this vision, supporting young athletes, and helping build something meaningful — together.
With gratitude,
Maxim Naumov