Ilia Malinin is reflecting on his “redemption skate” on the 2026 Winter Olympics after his surprising eighth place end.
When requested by a reporter how “necessary” it was to be on the Gala Skate, Malinin, 21, replied, “It simply was actually necessary particularly for what occurred.”
“I imply, it’s simply one thing that we undergo as athletes, as individuals. It’s simply all this fixed voices, these consideration, the stress, simply all the pieces compelled upon you,” he mentioned on Saturday, February 21. “It’s very exhausting to take care of and actually it’s what makes us very particular, very grateful for what we are able to do. Actually it’s simply the rationale why I wished to return on the market. Simply give it a redemption skate, simply show all of them mistaken.”
Whereas trying again on the Olympics, Malinin — nicknamed the “Quad God” — famous that his expertise has modified him in “some ways.”
After a heartbreaking efficiency within the males’s free skate last on the 2026 Winter Olympics, determine skating phenom Ilia Malinin mentioned he felt “overwhelmed” within the second. “It was actually simply one thing that overwhelmed me, and I simply felt like I had no management,” Malinin mentioned on Friday, February 13, after his surprising eight place (…)
“I feel that now I’ve actually understood my goal in skating, and that’s simply to carry pleasure and happiness to the folks that take pleasure in watching me,” he mentioned. “In order that’s what I’m going to be doing for the remainder of my profession.”
Earlier within the video games, Malinin missed the rostrum after a collection of errors in the course of the males’s free skate on February 13. He in the end earned eighth place regardless of being a gold medal favourite. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov in the end took dwelling gold, with Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama incomes silver and Shun Satoadditionally from Japan, receiving bronze.
Malinin took the ice for one final time on the 2026 Olympics on Saturday for the exhibition gala, the place there was no judging and no medals — as a substitute, simply a chance to entertain.
He sported a darkish sweatshirt and distressed denims, performing to “Worry” by NF.” Malinin beforehand shared that his routine would symbolize the detrimental influence social media has on the youthful era’s psychological well being. Malinin accomplished his signature backflip, which was unlawful from 1977 to 2024, and turned visibly emotional.
Days after he stumbled throughout his 2026 Olympics free skate, Ilia Malinin is taking a while to mirror. “On the world’s greatest stage, those that seem the strongest should be preventing invisible battles on the within,” the determine skater, 21, captioned a montage of highlights through Instagram on Monday, February 16. “Even your happiest (…)
“On the world’s greatest stage, those that seem the strongest should be preventing invisible battles on the within,” Malinin wrote after he didn’t podium. “Even your happiest reminiscences can find yourself tainted by the noise. Vile on-line hatred assaults the and worry lures it into the darkness, regardless of how exhausting you attempt to keep sane via the infinite insurmountable stress.”
He continued, “All of it builds up as these moments flash earlier than our eyes, leading to an inevitable crash. That is that model of the story. Coming February 21, 2026.”
Whereas trying again at his efficiency in the course of the males’s free skate, Malinin shared that he was “not anticipating” it to go the best way that it did. He additionally admitted to feeling “overwhelmed” in the meanwhile.
“It was actually simply one thing that overwhelmed me, and I simply felt like I had no management,” he mentioned on February 13. “Truthfully, I nonetheless haven’t been capable of course of what simply occurred. It’s numerous combined motions. Going into this competitors, I felt actually good. This entire day, I felt very stable, and I simply thought that every one I wanted to do is go on the market and belief the method that I’ve at all times been doing with each competitors. However in fact, it’s not like another competitors, it’s the Olympics.”