Scott Hamilton Tears Up on “Today ”as He Remembers Skaters Killed in D.C. Plane Crash: ‘My Heart Is Shattered’

Scott Hamilton was brought to tears on the Friday, Jan. 31 episode of the Today show as he reflected on the loss the U.S. figure skating community is feeling after the tragic D.C. plane crash that claimed the lives of 14 skaters and coaches.

"It’s been overwhelming," Hamilton, 66, said during a virtual interview with Today co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin. "It’s beyond the skating community. So many people see this tragedy and the loss of these brilliant young skaters that have poured their lives into building an identity in our sport. For their lives to be taken… and the coaches... is just devastating, shocking… it just doesn’t make any sense."

"This is where the community comes together," he said. "It’s a very tight-knit, very close-knit, very wonderful, caring, supportive community. We’re no stranger to tragedy, but this is just beyond devastation."

The 1984 Olympic champion turned TV commentator went on to explain that he had just come from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, where he had seen many of the skaters and coaches who perished.

"It’s like a reunion every time we go," Hamilton said.

Related: Nancy Kerrigan Mourns Skaters Killed in D.C. Plane Crash Who Belonged to Boston Skating Club: 'This Really Hits Home' (Exclusive)

Among those Hamilton spent time with in Wichita was former world champion skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The Russian-born ice skating coaches, who competed in the 1994 Olympics, were 'wonderful and kind,' " Hamilton shared.

"When you’re in skating, there are no national boundaries," he said. "We all have a shared experience and we understand what it takes to get to that level. And Shishkova and Naumov were amazing champion skaters that want to build their professional lives in America."

The couple shared son Maxim Naumov, a skater himself who became the U.S. junior champion in 2020. Though he had competed in Kansas, where he placed fourth, he was luckily not on the plane with his parents.

"Max, he’s an extraordinary talent," added Hamilton. "A few years ago at one of our Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer events, he put on a skin head wig and skated to ‘Walk this Way’ in tribute to me. And he’s got a great sense of humor. I actually sat with him for a nice visit in Wichita."

Hamilton then got emotional again. "To think that they’re gone..." he said, taking a moment to wipe the tears from his eyes. "I can’t wrap my head around the last 36 hours. It’s just been devastating. The loss is just beyond description and my heart is shattered."

Related: Tara Lipinski, Scott Hamilton, Meryl Davis Speak Out on Tragic Loss of U.S. Figure Skaters in D.C. Plane Crash

Later in his interview, Hamilton choked up again as he mentioned the death of figure skating legend Dick Button. The two-time Olympic champion and longtime "voice of figure skating" died on Thursday, Jan. 30 at age 95, less than 24 hours after the D.C. plane crash.

"It’s just unthinkable what’s happened,' said Hamilton. "And the utter loss that happened yesterday, the passing of the greatest skater of all time, Dick Button — it’s just been beyond anything I can handle, honestly."

Hamilton rose to prominence in the 1980s, winning Olympic gold in 1984. He retired from eligible skating soon after, deciding to pursue a career in both professional skating and sports broadcasting. He was a skating analyst for CBS Sports and later NBC Sports.

Related: U.S. Figure Skater Spencer Lane Eerily Posted Photo from Inside Plane Before Dying in D.C. Crash

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The deadly collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter has been likened to a similar tragedy that befell the U.S. Figure Skating team more than six decades prior.

On Feb. 15, 1961, the Sabena Flight 548 from New York City to Brussels crashed on approach, killing all 72 people on board, including the entire U.S. figure skating team slated to compete at the world championships in Prague. The crash killed 18 athletes and 16 family members, as well as coaches and officials, wiping out an entire generation of elite skaters.

The 1961 World Championships were canceled after the crash, and would not be canceled again until 2020 during the COVID pandemic.

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