Ilia Malinin entered the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as the overwhelming favorite to win gold in the men’s single free skate. But after he suffered two devastating falls during his routine, the 21-year-old American saw himself plummet all the way down to eighth place.
This collapse almost seemed inexplicable for the figure skating superstar and self-proclaimed “Quad God.” But on Monday, he finally shed some light on the situation with his first public social media post.
Malinin alluded to “fighting invisible battles on the inside” while dealing with the “endless insurmountable pressure” of the expectations set out in front of him.
“On the world’s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside. Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by the 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,” Malinin wrote on Instagram.
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Mikaela Shiffrin, the most-decorated Alpine skier of all time, also failed to live up to expectations at the Milano Cortina games. On Sunday, she finished 11th place in the Olympic giant slalom.
Shiffrin responded to Malinin’s social media post with a simple message.
“This,” Shiffrin wrote on her Instagram story alongside a heart emoji.
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This isn’t the first time Shiffrin has vocalized her support for Malinin. This past weekend, she responded to a post-event interview in which Malinin reacted to his disappointing performance.
“The Olympics ask us to take a real risk on the world stage. One that requires courage and vulnerability to erroneous judgment and narratives built on a limited understanding of what the sport truly demands. And it all matters in the story of becoming the best version of ourselves. We love deeply because we know loss,” she wrote.
“We feel the pain of defeat because we’ve tasted triumph,” she continued. “Heartbreak and victory live right next door. Disappointment and gratitude often co-exist. Ilia, we’ve got your back. Proud of you!”
