BRENTWOOD, Mo. – The power of sport goes beyond competition; it creates lasting bonds. That was evident this afternoon as the St. Louis Skating Club honored members of the figure skating community who were lost in the tragic DC plane crash earlier this year.

Local skaters and coaches took to the ice on Sunday in a heartfelt tribute, showing that the fellow skaters’ legacies will never be forgotten. The St. Louis Skating Club hosted the exhibition at Brentwood Ice Rink to honor the victims of the Flight 5342 crash that claimed the lives of several members of the national skating community, when their plane was hit by a helicopter above the Potomac.

“This was absolutely devastating. Because this group, I mean, this was your next up-and-comers; these were your rising stars.” Evelyn Gwi, a figure skating coach and choreographer in the St Louis area, said.

Amanda Naji is another prominent figure skating coach and choreographer in the region. She’s the reason the whole performance happened.

“We can do something in memory of them and bring us all together as a community to know we’re right there with them and do our best to keep their memories living on,” Naji said.

The memorial event featured a special performance at the beginning of the program, where close to 30 skaters and coaches came together to deliver a moving display of unity and remembrance. The tribute served as a powerful reminder of the deep bonds within the skating world and the lasting impact of those lost in the tragedy.

“This is a really healing experience. I mean, many of us find skating to be therapeutic and healing. This is, especially us all coming together, is very special,” Gwi said. “I think many of the skaters that you’ll see today, they wanted to do something, they really did.”

With St. Louis set to host the U.S. Figure Skating Championships next year, the tribute also underscored the city’s growing presence in the sport. Sunday afternoon was not only a moment of mourning but also a celebration of the resilience and dedication of the skating community.

For many in attendance, Sunday’s tribute was a way to reflect, heal, and honor the legacy of those who made a lasting mark on figure skating.