A 14-year-old figure skater shared her ambitious dreams for her bright future before she was killed alongside her little sister and parents in the DC plane crash.
Everly Livingston, 14, of Ashburn, Virginia, and her sister, 11-year-old Alydia, were among the 67 people who lost their lives Wednesday evening when the American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter.
The pair of talented athletes, who were also known on social media as the beloved ‘Ice Skating Sisters’, were on board the fateful flight with their parents, Peter and Donna Livingston.
Just last year, the then-13-year-old Everly spoke to FOX 5 DC on her accomplishments on the ice as she was quickly becoming a face in the sport.
In the heartbreaking video, Everly spoke about how difficult but beautiful the sport was as she shared her goals for her promising future in figure skating.
‘My goals are to actually be a part of Team USA and travel around the world,’ she said with a big smile.
The ambitious teenager was said to be ‘shy and reserved compared to her sister, yet came alive on the ice – becoming a sectional champion a the intermediate and juvenile levels,’ according to a tribute posted by a Facebook account called ‘The Skating Lesson.’
Both Everly and Alydia were members of the Washington Figure Skating Club and often shared their stunning skating routines to their various social media accounts.
Everly Livingston, 14, of Ashburn, Virginia, was tragically killed in the DC plane crash alongside her little sister and her parents just a year after she shared her goals in figure skating to FOX 5 DC
Everly (right) and her 11-year-old sister, Alydia, were known on social media as the beloved ‘Ice Skating Sisters’ who shared dozens of stunning videos and photos from their performances across the country
The girls’ final Instagram post, which was shared five days before the deadly crash, showed the pair smiling in front of the ice rink at the US Figure Skating Championships while wearing their ‘athlete’ lanyards
The girls were said to be thrilled to be attending the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, last week.
Their final Instagram post, which was shared five days before the deadly crash, showed the pair smiling in front of the ice rink at the championships while wearing their ‘athlete’ lanyards.
‘If you look closely at Alydia’s badge… We were born ready for this,’ the caption read. ‘But is @usfigureskating ready for this much Livingston at Nationals?’
In a separate Instagram post shared on Wednesday by Inna Volyanskaya, Everly’s coach, the young skater along with her partner Franco Aparicio were praised for their hard work and dedication.
‘Congratulations on Everly and Franco for making it to the national development camp for their second year!’ the post read.
‘So proud of all their hard work and training they have done to get here. What an amazing way to start off the year!’
Everly’s goal for this season was to make it back to the US Figure Skating Development Team for the second time which was ultimately fulfilled before her life was cut too short.
‘The season is officially over and Everly is walking away with another step in her figure skating journey with making the USFS high performance development team for the 2024-2025 season,’ said a post on the girls’ shared Instagram page in November.
The sisters were on board the American Airlines flight with their parents, Peter and Donna Livingston
Both girls had suffered injuries in their young careers – Everly tore her meniscus and underwent surgery to repair it last year and Alydia suffered a broken ankle two years ago
In an Instagram post shared on Wednesday by Inna Volyanskaya, Everly’s coach who also was on board the plane, the young skater along with her partner Franco Aparicio were praised for their hard work and dedication
Alydia, who was said to be one of the youngest skaters on the flight, had recently teamed up with a new partner and had also earned herself a trip to the development camp, which was held in conjunction with the championships.
The 11-year-old athlete was said to be a ‘rising ice dancer’. According to the tribute, ‘Lydia was known for her vivacious personality and strong desire to improve on the ice – no matter the critique.’
Together, the pair have a large following on social media where their account is filled with videos and photos of their stunning performances in competitions across the country.
In the bio of their shared YouTube channel, they are described as ‘sisters who love skating and often each other.’
Both girls had suffered injuries in their young careers – Everly tore her meniscus and underwent surgery to repair it last year and Alydia suffered a broken ankle two years ago, The Kansas City Star reported.
Peter and Donna, their parents, were said to be among the most devoted of parents ‘trying to manage raising two skaters and spending numerous nights in hotels while splitting time between New Jersey, Michigan and Virginia in recent months.’
Donna, who was a Comcast employee, ‘will be remembered for her optimistic nature,’ the tribute read.
The tribute added that Peter, who was a real estate agent, ‘will be remembered for being a supportive dad who loved filming his girls anywhere and everywhere.’
‘My goals are to actually be a part of Team USA and travel around the world,’ Everly said with a big smile during an interview just last year
Alydia (left) was described in a tribute as a ‘rising ice dancer’ who was known for her vivacious personality and strong desire to improve on the ice – no matter the critique’
The young girls’ coach, Volyanskaya, previously competed for the Soviet Union and earned gold medals at the 1980 Blue Swords, 1982 Grand Prix International St. Gervais and 1982 Nebelhorn Trophy, the tribute on Facebook said.
Tragically, the 59-year-old former skater was among those who were on board the fatal flight.
‘Inna Volyanskaya is remembered as a tiny woman with a fierce heart of gold,’ the post read. ‘One skating mother referred to her as a “rare diamond.”‘
The collision in DC on Wednesday took place as the American Airlines flight carrying 64 people made its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport shortly before 9pm ET.
A Black Hawk helicopter cut through the airspace from the opposite direction under cover of darkness, with both aircraft seemingly unaware of the other’s presence.
They slammed into one another just 400ft above ground, erupting in a violent explosion before plunging into the freezing Potomac River below.
First responders have recovered at least 28 bodies from the icy waters on Thursday as recovery operations continue.
There were 64 people on board the commercial flight, including four crew members.
In the tribute, the girls’ parents were described as being among the most devoted of parents ‘trying to manage raising two skaters and spending numerous nights in hotels while splitting time between New Jersey, Michigan and Virginia in recent months’
Everly (right) was described in the tribute as being more ‘shy and reserved compared to her sister, yet came alive on the ice – becoming a sectional champion a the intermediate and juvenile levels’
The young skaters are among the 67 people killed in Wednesday’s horrific collision, which has become the country’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2001
Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter that was on a training flight at the time of the crash.
The US Figure Skating team released a statement to X confirming that several of its members were victims of the collision.
At least six people from The Skating Club of Boston were a part of The Skating Club of Boston.
Other victims of the crash were members of the Washington Figure Skating Club, the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and the Skating Club of Northern Virginia, People reported.
All of those on board both aircrafts were killed, making Wednesday’s horrific collision the country’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2001.