Nancy Kerrigan, Nathan Chen and dozens of other U.S. figure skating stars will converge in Washington on Sunday to pay tribute to the victims of the American Airlines flight that fatally collided with a military helicopter last month.
The special tribute show, titled ‘Legacy on Ice,’ will feature performances by more than 40 athletes over two hours at Capital One Arena as U.S. Figure Skating and its corporate partners look to raise money for the families affected by the fatal collision over the Potomac River on Jan. 29. Authorities said 67 people died in the crash, the cause of which is currently being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
According to U.S. Figure Skating, nearly half of the passengers on the American Airlines flight were members of the figure skating community who were returning home following a national development camp for young skaters in Wichita, Kansas.
While the specific details of Sunday’s exhibition have yet to be revealed, here’s what we know about the show, who will be there and how to watch it.
What is the ‘Legacy on Ice’ tribute show?
‘Legacy on Ice’ is a one-time exhibition being held at Capital One Arena in Washington to raise money for the families of the crash vicims and the first responders that worked on scene. The proceeds are being distributed through the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, the charitable foundation associated with the entity that owns the NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards and WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
According to U.S. Figure Skating, Sunday’s show will feature performances by current and former U.S. skating national champions, while also ‘[weaving] in storytelling as a poignant tribute to the history of figure skating in the United States.’
‘Additionally, the first responders, the fallen and their families will be acknowledged in tributes of remembrance,’ the national governing body said in a news release Monday.
The exhibition concept is well-known and long-established in figure skating, where high-level domestic and international competitions usually end with such a performance. Exhibitions usually feature more artistry and creativity than the competitions themselves, which can be more technical.
Who will be at ‘Legacy on Ice’?
U.S. Figure Skating has released a list of 41 figure skaters who are expected to take the ice Sunday. In addition to Kerrigan, a two-time Olympic medalist, and Chen, the reigning gold medalist, the list features some of the most well-known American athletes in the history of the sport, including:
- Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic gold medalist
- Peggy Fleming, who won Olympic gold in 1968
- Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist
- Johnny Weir, three-time U.S. champion and NBC figure skating analyst
- Kristi Yamaguchi, who won Olympic gold in 1992
Several current members of Team USA − and Olympic hopefuls for the upcoming 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina − are also expected to attend, including Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito.
How can I watch the ‘Legacy on Ice’ tribute show?
‘Legacy on Ice’ will run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Sunday and be broadcast live on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock. An encore showing of the exhibition will air on NBC at 1 p.m. ET on March 30.
