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The 2026 Winter Olympics were supposed to be the crowning moment of Ilia
Malinin’s career. At just 21 years old, the American figure skating star arrived in
Milan as the clear favorite to win Olympic gold. He was undefeated for nearly three
years, a two-time world champion, and widely considered the most technically
advanced skater in history.
Fans, experts, and even fellow athletes expected Malinin to dominate the
competition. His nickname, the “Quad God,” reflected his ability to land the most
difficult jumps in figure skating, including the legendary quad axel. Everything
pointed toward victory.
But in one shocking night, everything changed.
Instead of standing on the podium, Malinin finished eighth after falling twice during
his free skate. It was one of the most surprising moments in Olympic figure skating
history.
The Rise of a Figure Skating Superstar
Ilia Malinin was not just another competitor. He represented the future of figure
skating.
Born in Virginia in 2004, Malinin grew up in a skating family. His parents, Tatiana
Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, were both Olympic skaters. They helped guide
him from a young age and introduced him to the sport early in his childhood.
Malinin started skating when he was six years old. At first, he didn’t plan to become
a figure skater. He wanted to play soccer. But skating quickly became his passion.
Over the years, his talent became impossible to ignore. He developed incredible
jumping ability, balance, and control. His biggest breakthrough came when he
successfully landed the quad axel, the most difficult jump in figure skating.
The quad axel requires four and a half rotations in the air. Before Malinin, no skater
had landed it successfully in major international competition.
This achievement made him famous around the world.
By the time he reached the Olympics, he was already considered one of the greatest technical skaters ever.
Entering the Olympics as the Favorite
At the Olympics, Malinin carried enormous expectations. Many believed he was
guaranteed to win gold.
His biggest competitors included Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato, both
talented and experienced skaters. But Malinin’s technical difficulty gave him a
clear advantage.
He proved his strength during the short program. Malinin delivered an excellent
performance and scored 108.16 points. This placed him in first place, with a five-
point lead over the rest of the field.
Everything was going according to plan.
He was one strong performance away from Olympic gold.
The Free Skate: When Everything Fell Apart
When Malinin stepped onto the ice for his free skate, he looked calm and focused.
He had performed this routine many times before. He knew exactly what to do.
He landed his opening quad flip successfully. This was a strong start and showed he
was capable of winning.
But his next jump, the quad axel, did not go as planned.
Instead of completing it cleanly, he bailed out mid-jump. This mistake immediately
reduced his score and affected his confidence.
From that moment, the performance became more difficult.
He later doubled a planned quad loop instead of completing the full rotation. This
cost him valuable points.
Then came the biggest mistakes.
Malinin fell on a quad lutz attempt. Later, he fell again during his final jumping pass.
These falls shocked the audience.
Fans watching in the arena and around the world could not believe what they were seeing.
This was the same skater who had made difficult jumps look easy for years.
Now, he was struggling on the biggest stage of his life.
The Final Score and Shocking Result
When the performance ended, Malinin stood in the center of the ice. He looked
disappointed and frustrated.
His free skate score was 156.33. This placed him 15th in the free skate segment.
His total Olympic score was 264.49.
This result placed him eighth overall.
It was almost impossible to believe.
The gold medal instead went to Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov, who delivered a
strong and consistent performance.
Kagiyama won silver, and Sato won bronze.
Malinin, the favorite to win gold, was not even on the podium.
Malinin Admits the Pressure Affected Him
After the competition, Malinin spoke honestly about what happened.
He admitted that the pressure affected his mental state.
He said negative thoughts entered his mind during the performance.
He felt overwhelmed by the moment.
The Olympics are different from any other competition. The pressure is higher. The
audience is larger. The expectations are greater.
Even the strongest athletes can struggle mentally under these conditions.
Malinin said simply, “I blew it.”
His honesty showed his maturity and self-awareness.
Earlier Olympic Success in the Team Event
Despite his individual disappointment, Malinin did achieve success at the Olympics.
He helped Team USA win gold in the team figure skating event.
His performance contributed important points to the team’s victory.
This proved that he still had the ability to perform at the highest level.
However, the individual competition was his main goal.
That made the free skate result especially painful.
The Emotional Moment After the Performance
After receiving his score, Malinin congratulated Shaidorov.
This showed his sportsmanship and respect.
Even in disappointment, he behaved like a true professional.
He did not make excuses.
He accepted the result and focused on moving forward.
This attitude is important for any champion.
Why Figure Skating Is So Difficult
Figure skating is one of the most difficult sports in the world.
It requires:
Perfect timing
Extreme balance
High-level athletic ability
Mental focus
Emotional control
A small mistake can cause a fall.
A fall can change the entire competition.
Even the best skaters in history have made mistakes at the Olympics.
This is part of the sport.
Malinin’s Future Remains Bright
Despite this setback, Malinin’s future is still very promising.
He is only 21 years old.
He has many years ahead of him.
He remains one of the most talented skaters in the world.
His technical ability is unmatched.
Many experts believe he will win more championships in the future.
This Olympic experience may make him stronger mentally.
Sometimes failure becomes the motivation for future success.
A Lesson in Pressure and Resilience
Malinin’s Olympic performance shows how powerful pressure can be.
Even the best athletes are human.
They experience fear, stress, and doubt.
What matters most is how they respond.
Malinin said he plans to regroup and continue.
This mindset is the sign of a true champion.
Ilia Malinin arrived at the Olympics as the favorite to win gold. He had the skill, the
experience, and the confidence.
But during the free skate, pressure and mistakes changed everything.
He fell twice and finished eighth.
It was a shocking result.
However, this moment does not define his career.
Malinin is still young, talented, and determined.
His journey is far from over.
The “Quad God” may have fallen at the Olympics—but he still has the power to rise
again.
