‘Special Forces’: Maxim Naumov Reflects on Forming a ‘Bond’ With Fellow Recruit Collin Gosselin

Alyssa Norwin October 29, 2026, 11:18 am

What To Know

Maxim Naumov and Collin Gosselin are both recruits on Special Forces Season 5.
In an interview with TV Insider, Naumov reveals their special ‘bond’ and reflects on how they grew so close.
He also dishes on the cast’s group chat and how often they talk in it.

The celebrity recruits on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test often form a close bond during their time on the course. Season 5 recruit Maxim Naumov says he grew especially close with Collin Gosselin while they were filming the show, forming an unlikely friendship that continues to this day.

“Right away I bonded with Collin because we’re the closest in age. Again, I didn’t really know him and his experience and his story. I remember us just bonding very, very quickly because we had each other’s backs,” Naumov tells TV Insider. “We had to do something in the very beginning and we just kind of locked eyes. We’re like, ‘Yeah, bro, we’re in this.’ We had this camaraderie right away.”

Naumov recalls being pinned against Gosselin in the boxing mission, but notes, “You had to kind of put your emotions to the side and get the job done. And then after we hugged it out and we had even more respect for each other.”

The guys “gave each other advice” throughout their time on the show. “He was someone that guided me and helped me,” Naumov adds. “I helped him out sometimes on certain things, and he told me what to do, as well.”

Maxim Naumov Says Crying on 'Special Forces' Was a 'Turning Point'

In general, the Olympic figure skater says he and his castmates “keep in touch” via their group chat. “After every episode, it just lights up,” he reveals. “My phone’s blowing up and we talk and we discuss and then people are like, ‘I can’t believe that happened. I totally forgot about this.’ So it’s reliving that. You’re reliving that entire experience when you’re watching the episode.”

Gosselin and Naumov are two of the 10 recruits still hoping to complete the Special Forces course in Season 5. Five recruits have already left the course, either voluntarily or for medical reasons.