At the Olympics, expectations can feel heavier than the medals themselves especially when you’re the one everyone expects to shine. Ilia Malinin arrived at the Games surrounded by plenty of hype. Fans and analysts already pictured him on the podium. But in figure skating even the smallest mistake can shift everything in an instant.
After a day on the ice that didn’t go the way anyone imagined, attention quickly turned to what would come next for Malinin. Instead of following the usual post-event routine, Malinin made a quiet decision that surprised many and said as much about the emotional side of the Olympics as the competition itself.
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Ilia Malinin of the United States of America reacts after competing in the men’s singles free program. James Lang-Imagn Images
(James Lang-Imagn Images)
Following the event, Malinin was supposed to take a post-event international media lap, so to speak, in Milan. However, that media schedule was postponed.
USA Today’s Christine Brennan reported on X: “Ilia Malinin update: He has postponed the huge media day that was planned for him here at the Olympics. He is in the village spending time with his U.S. teammates and other athletes. I’m told the Olympic record for supportive hugs for an athlete might be broken today.”
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The men’s figure skating final at the Winter Olympics was supposed to be a showcase for Malinin, a coronation for the American “Quad God,” until it suddenly wasn’t. Coming in as the heavy favorite and known for pushing the sport’s technical boundaries, Malinin looked poised to cap his unbeaten season run with Olympic gold. Instead, the night unfolded in a way few could have predicted.
Mistakes started piling up early. With each stumble, the pressure seemed to grow heavier. The usually fearless American looked hesitant. He popped out of signature moves, crashed to the ice and scaled back elements. He never found his footing or any positive momentum. By the end of the program, he had tumbled from first place to a distant eighth place, far from the podium.
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While several big names struggled, Mikhail Shaidorov quietly delivered a composed, clean skate to capture gold in an historic moment for Kazakhstan. Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato completed the podium.
It was a reminder Olympic pressure can reshape even the most dominant narratives. For Malinin, the night ended with disappointment but also grace: Sometimes the telling detail isn’t a win, but how an athlete responds when everything goes wrong.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Olympics section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.