Ilia Malinin’s journey at the Olympics took a surprising turn. Many expected him to win the gold medal in men’s figure skating, especially after his main competitor from Japan faltered in their performance. Instead, the 21-year-old skater faced immense pressure and finished in eighth place—a shocking outcome for someone considered one of the best in the sport.
Malinin, often called the “quad god” for his ability to land difficult quadruple jumps, struggled during his free skate. He fell twice and managed only three of seven planned quad jumps. His final score of 264.49 points was over 69 points lower than his personal best. Under pressure, even elite athletes can falter, as seen with stars like Mikaela Shiffrin and Simone Biles during previous competitions.
Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan clinched the gold medal with 291.58 points, a remarkable achievement. He became his country’s first Olympic figure skating champion and only its second gold medalist in any Winter Games since 1994. This win was unexpected, much like when Germany surprisingly lost 7-1 to Brazil in the 2014 World Cup.
Yuma Kagiyama from Japan won the silver medal, though his performance wasn’t flawless. Shun Sato, also from Japan, took home the bronze.
Looking back, the competition seemed set up for Malinin. He had just performed a flawless quad flip and appeared poised to attempt the history-making quad axel, a jump that involves 4½ revolutions in the air. However, he instead attempted a single axel, resulting in a major point drop.
Slate commentator Tara Lipinski remarked how unexpected Malinin’s stumbles were, noting he lost almost 72 points on mistakes that seemed out of character for him. Both he and his supporters believed he was ready for this challenge, showcasing the mental aspects athletes face during such high-stakes events.
After the performance, Malinin reflected on the pressure. He suggested he might have been too confident going into the competition, emphasizing how distinct the Olympic atmosphere is from other competitions. “It was definitely mental,” he admitted, acknowledging that he underestimated the pressure that comes with the Olympic stage.
This experience highlights how crucial mental resilience is in sports, often proving more pivotal than physical skill. As Malinin moves forward, it will be interesting to see how he learns from this experience and grows as an athlete.
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Olympic Games,Olympic Games (2026),Figure Skating,Malinin, Ilia (2004- )
