Mental collapse at the Olympics isn’t new, but when it happens to an athlete who hasn’t lost in three years, the shockwave travels further.
Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old American figure skating prodigy, entered Friday’s free skate at the Milano Ice Skating Arena with a five-point cushion and near-universal certainty he would win gold. Instead, two falls and an uncharacteristically basic routine left him in eighth place—out of the medals entirely.
Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan claimed gold in one of the most unlikely outcomes in Winter Olympics history. Sports analyst Christine Brennan told CNN it was “as big an upset in sports as we’ve probably ever seen.”
The defeat marks the first time Malinin has lost since 2023. The two-time reigning world champion is known as the “Quad God” for performing the quadruple Axel—a jump so technical only he has landed it in competition.
Fast Facts
- Malinin held a five-point lead going into the free skate after his short program
- He fell twice during his routine on February 13, 2026
- Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama struggled immediately before Malinin, creating an opening the American couldn’t use
- Malinin had won Team USA gold in the team event earlier at Milan Cortina 2026
- In that team event short program, he fell to second place behind Kagiyama—an early warning sign
“It’s the Olympics, and I think people only realize the pressure and the nerves that actually happen from the inside,” Malinin told reporters minutes after stepping off the ice. “It was just something that overwhelmed me, and I felt like I had no control.”
He described the moment he took his starting position: “All the traumatic moments of my life really just started flooding my head, and there were just so many negative thoughts.”
His father and coach Roman Skorniakov sat beside him as the score was announced, both visibly shocked. Malinin still managed to congratulate Shaidorov on the victory.
Analysis: The parallel to Nathan Chen’s 2018 PyeongChang collapse is striking. Chen, dubbed the “Quad King,” fell multiple times and finished fifth after being the favorite. He returned in 2022 and won gold. Malinin is younger than Chen was in 2018 and has four years until the 2030 Winter Olympics. The path to redemption exists—but only if he addresses the mental side of competing under Olympic pressure.
Before the event, Malinin appeared confident, waving to fans and joking with the crowd. But he later admitted his smile “masked how I truly felt.”
“It wasn’t my best day, and it was definitely something I wasn’t expecting,” he said. “But it’s done, I can’t go back and change it, even though I would love to. From here, it’s just regrouping, figuring out what to do next.”
What to watch next: How Malinin rebuilds his mental approach to high-pressure competition will determine whether Milan 2026 becomes a footnote or the defining failure of his career.
Sources: Ilia Malinin, Christine Brennan, CNN, Getty Images, AFP
Evan Cole Editor-in-Chief | Breaking News & Public Policy
“From Washington to Wall Street, and Main Street to Hollywood—Evan Cole connects the dots.”
As the Editor-in-Chief at Newskilo, Evan leads a dynamic team of journalists dedicated to uncovering the truth behind the headlines. With over 15 years in digital media, Evan has a reputation for cutting through the noise.
While he is widely recognized for his deep analysis of U.S. fiscal policy (IRS & Stimulus), Evan’s expertise extends to global current events, corporate accountability, and cultural trends. Whether he is breaking down a complex government bill, exposing a tech giant’s failure, or analyzing the societal impact of a viral celebrity moment, Evan’s goal is simple: To tell the stories that shape our world with clarity, accuracy, and integrity.