On Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, the figure skating community lost 28 athletes, parents and coaches, five of whom were University of Delaware Figure Skating Club members, in a tragic plane crash that occurred as they were on their way home from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas.
To honor their memory, we pay tribute to those lost from the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club. Their legacy will carry on for all time.
Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov
Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, 46, and his wife, Natalia Gudin, coached Angela Yang and Sean Kay and many other skaters and teams at the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club.
He was also a treasured longtime coach at IceWorld in Abingdon, Maryland.
Sasha was a professional ice dancer. He previously competed for the United States, Azerbaijan and Russia, and last competed in 2004. He then coached and choreographed in his retirement, and coached members of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club.
Angela Yang and Sean Kay
Angela Yang and Sean Kay were a fast-rising dance ice dance team that had captured the attention of judges and U.S. Figure Skating.
The skaters, both 11, won November’s U.S. Ice Dance Final in the juvenile division and earned the top spot at their National Qualifying Series event.
Ignited by a passion for dance, Angela began her career as a solo ice dancer before her family moved to Delaware so she could pursue her skating dreams with a partner. She shined in the off-ice dance classes during camp and was a great friend to her fellow campers.
Sean was considered a natural on the ice and followed his sister into the sport. He was funny, outgoing and loved being a part of the camp and making friends. He won solo dance competitions at the juvenile and intermediate levels. He and Angela had plans to move up the ranks in the solo dance discipline.
Angela’s mother, Zheheng (Lily) Li, and Sean’s mother, Julia Kay, also perished in the accident.
Angela and Sean were coached by Natalia Gudin and her husband, Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, at the University of Delaware.
