Ilia Malinin’s first Winter Games appearance was full of ups and downs, as he’s described. He helped Team USA win the gold medal in the team event to kick off the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. He was seen as the clear favorite to win the gold in the men’s individual skating competition, but a fall cost him a trip to the podium. He finished his Olympic run at the skating gala on Saturday, performing a breathtaking routine.
Despite the unfortunate result in the singles event, the 21-year-old American has held his head high throughout the Games. He opened up about his mental health struggles after his loss, but has now shifted to focusing on the future. Malinin’s not anywhere near done.
