Ilia Malinin shares vulnerable message after Winter Olympics letdown

Team USA figure skating sensation Ilia Malinin was riding high after helping to lift the United States to gold in the team overall competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He then entered the individual competition as the overwhelming favorite.

Unfortunately, things don’t always go as you plan, and Malinin struggled in his final free skate of the solo competition. After stumbling multiple times, Malinin failed to reach the podium.

Malinin ended the tournament in eighth place and was left in shock by his performance, just like the viewers at home.

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With a few days to digest what happened when he took the ice, Malinin shared a vulnerable statement on social media. The statement urges those at home to be kind online and to understand that some people may be going through “invisible battles” no matter how strong they appear on the outside.

Feb 13, 2026; Milan, Italy; Ilia Malinin of the United States of America competes in the men’s singles free program during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

“On the world’s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside,” Malinin wrote on Instagram.

“Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by noise. Vile online hatred attacks the mind, and fear lures it into the darkness, no matter how hard you try to stay sane through the endless insurmountable pressure. It all builds up as these moments flash before your eyes, resulting in an inevitable crash. This is that version of the story.”

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Malinin was facing unthinkable pressure going into his gold medal skate, and it ultimately got the best of him. But instead of being disappointed by how the Milan-Cortina Games played out, Malinin should be proud that he was out there on the ice despite anything that may have been going on off of it.

In the end, there is no reason for Malinin to be ashamed or embarrassed for falling short. All it did was prove that “The Quad God” is human, and he is still an Olympic gold medalist.