At the Olympics, expectations can feel just as heavy as the medals themselves especially when you’re the one everyone expects to shine. Ilia Malinin arrived at the Games carrying plenty of buzz, with fans and analysts already picturing him on the podium. But the thing about figure skating is that 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. Instead of following the usual post-event routine, Malinin made a quiet decision that surprised many that 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 address the media at a press conference that was scheduled. However, he postponed it as he prioritized spending time with his teammates over talking to the media.
USA Today’s Christine Brennan reported on X saying, “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 Ilia Malinin 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 run with Olympic gold. Instead, the night unfolded in a way few could have predicted.
Mistakes started piling up early, and with each stumble, the pressure seemed to grow heavier. The usually fearless American looked hesitant, scaling back elements that fans expected him to attempt, and the momentum never really returned. By the end of the program, the result was stunning: eighth place and no medal.
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While several big names struggled, Mikhail Shaidorov quietly delivered a composed, clean skate to capture gold, marking a historic moment for Kazakhstan. Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato completed the podium.
It was a reminder that Olympic pressure can reshape even the most dominant narratives. For Malinin, the night ended with disappointment but also grace, as he congratulated his rivals and showed that sometimes the biggest story isn’t the 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.
