MILAN – Ilia Malinin, the reigning World champion and dubbed the “Quad God” for his pioneering quadruple axel, finished eighth in the men’s figure skating competition at the Milan Cortina Olympic Games on Friday, a stunning result after a free skate marred by multiple falls and errors. The 21-year-vintage American skater, who had entered the event as a strong gold medal favorite, struggled to replicate his usual form, costing him a potential podium finish.
Malinin’s performance was a stark contrast to his earlier success, including leading Team USA to a gold medal in the team event earlier in the Games. According to ESPN, the stakes were particularly high on Friday, as the U.S. And Japan were tied entering the men’s free skate, the final segment of the team competition.
During his free skate, Malinin faltered on several jumps. His signature quadruple axel, a jump he is the first and only skater to successfully land in international competition, was reduced to a single axel. A planned quadruple loop was downgraded to a double, and he also fell on a quadruple lutz. These errors resulted in a score of 156.33, significantly lower than the 200+ points he had been expected to achieve. Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan ultimately claimed the gold medal.
Visibly frustrated after his performance, Malinin expressed his disbelief. “I was not expecting that,” he said in a post-skate interview. “I felt so ready getting on that ice. Maybe I was too confident it was going to go well.” He attributed his struggles to the pressure of the Olympic atmosphere, stating, “Finally experiencing that Olympic atmosphere, it’s crazy. It’s really different.” He added, simply, “I blew it.”
Despite the disappointing individual result, Malinin’s contribution to the U.S. Team gold medal remains a highlight of the Games. The U.S. Has a strong history in Olympic figure skating, having won 17 gold medals – more than any other nation – and a total of 54 medals according to available records. Russia ranks second with 14 gold medals.
The Olympic figure skating schedule continues with the women’s single skating short program on Tuesday, February 17th, followed by the free skate on Thursday, February 19th. The Games will conclude with the Exhibition Gala on Saturday, February 21st.
The circumstances surrounding Malinin’s performance raise questions about the mental challenges faced by elite athletes at the Olympic level, and whether the pressure of competition can derail even the most technically gifted skaters. The International Skating Union has not yet commented on the factors contributing to the unexpected results in the men’s competition.
