U.S. Figure Skating is confirming several skaters are among the victims of the Washington, D.C., plane crash, a news that's impacted members of the skating community across the country. One local figure skater said she knows firsthand just how much these individuals meant to the sport.

Once again, figure skaters representing the past, present and future of the sport perished in a catastrophic plane crash.

Figure skaters and coaches returning from the U.S. national championships were aboard the American Airlines flight that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday.