US EditionAfter ‘Olympic Curse,’ US Figure Skater Ilia Malinin Sets His Sights on Future
Ilia Malinin, reigning world champion, fell twice on quad jumps and dropped off the podium at Milan; he remains focused on winning Olympic gold in 2030, experts say.
- Ilia Malinin, the heavy favorite, fell twice during the men's free skate Friday at Milan, dropping from first place and allowing Mikhail Shaidorov to claim gold.
- Pressure from his long unbeaten streak over more than two years and two world championships overwhelmed Malinin, who said on Feb. 4 that expectations began in late 2025.
- Technical errors included Malinin doubling a planned quad loop, falling on a quad lutz that disrupted his combination, and turning the final quad salchow–triple axel into a double salchow with a fall.
- Despite the collapse, Malinin leaves Milan with at least one team gold and remains the reigning world champion and a favorite for future Games, finishing eighth in men's singles.
- Like past Olympic collapses, experts note recovery is possible, with Dr. Sahen Gupta saying 'It actually bears a lot of similarities to grief' and citing athletes like Chen and Biles as examples.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Olympics-Figure skating-Malinin attends pairs event, will compete at world championships
MILAN, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Ilia Malinin was in the stands for the Olympic figure skating pairs competition on Sunday, two days after his shock poor performance in the men's free skate left the runaway favourite for the event off the podium.
Figure skating-Malinin attends pairs event, will compete at world championships
MILAN, Feb 15 : Ilia Malinin was in the stands for the Olympic figure skating pairs competition on Sunday, two days after his shock poor performance in the men's free skate left the runaway favourite for the event off the podium. Malinin practised at the Milano Ice Skating Arena earlier in the day and will c
Ludovica Sciannimanico collects flowers and cuddly animals from the ice, which spectators have thrown at the figure skaters. Nine-year-olds have witnessed the spoilt freestyle of US star Ilia Malinin.
Rockstar athletes like Ilia Malinin often get 'the yips' at the Olympics. It can make them stronger
Ilia Malinin's painful falls at the Milan Cortina Games follow in a long tradition of great U.S. athletes who get the "yips" or the "twisties" during the Olympics.
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