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For 15-year-old figure skater Sofia Bezkorovainaya, performing brings an exhilarating rush. But when she takes the ice for her short program, the experience also carries the memory of her friend Everly Livingston.

Everly and her family were among the 67 people killed aboard Flight 5342 when the airliner collided with a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River last year. Sofia has dedicated her routines to her friend.

During the opening and closing moments of the program, Sofia looks upward and wraps her arms around herself.

“When I look up and hug myself, it feels like she’s hugging me,” Sofia said.

Set to “Over the Rainbow,” the emotional routine drew an outpouring of support after a video was posted on Instagram. Viewers described the performance as a moving tribute, with some saying it brought them to tears as they remembered Everly, the other skaters and the families whose lives were lost.

Sofia, who was born in Alexandria and lives in Springfield, recently finished among the top six at the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships. The result placed the Virginia Virtual Academy student among the country’s leading junior skaters.

She began skating at the Mount Vernon Rec Center before training at MedStar and in Ashburn. Her current home rink is Reston SkateQuest.

Attending school virtually gives Sofia the flexibility to train, travel and compete nationally while continuing her education. That arrangement has supported her development for years, including her 2022 Juvenile National Championship.

Sofia is not old enough to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 6-22, but she is aiming for the 2030 Winter Games, when she will be eligible.

“Absolutely, the 2030 Olympics are my long-term goal,” she said.

For now, Sofia is looking forward to watching the 2026 competition and supporting the American team.

“These Olympics are so exciting to watch,” she said. “I’m cheering for all of the Team USA skaters.”