Ilia Malinin Falls Twice, Finishes 8th in Olympic Free Skate

Ilia Malinin experienced a heartbreaking performance during the Olympic free skate in Milan, resulting in an unexpected eighth-place finish. Having initially led after the short program, Malinin’s fall from grace allowed Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov to seize the gold medal. This event marks a significant upset in the competitive landscape of figure skating.

Malinin’s Disastrous Free Skate

The free skate took place on Friday night at the Milano Ice Arena. Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” faced the world under immense pressure. After a strong showing earlier in the competition, expectations were high. However, on this night, he fell twice, delivering one of the worst performances of his career.

Key Performers and Results

• Mikhail Shaidorov (Kazakhstan): Gold medal, career-best 291.58 points.
• Yuma Kagiyama (Japan): Silver medal, marking his second consecutive Olympic silver.
• Shun Sato (Japan): Bronze medal.
• Ilia Malinin (USA): Eighth place with 264.49 points.

Malinin’s performance shattered his two-year unbeaten streak, which included 14 consecutive victories and two world championships. He expressed his disbelief, stating, “I blew it.” This performance was particularly shocking considering his thriving confidence leading into the Olympics.

Pressure and Performance

Throughout the Olympics, Malinin struggled with immense pressure. Earlier in the team event, he faced a defeat to Kagiyama. Despite winning against Shun Sato in the team free skate, Malinin’s confidence fluctuated. His training at a U.S. Figure Skating facility in Bergamo was intended to relieve pre-competition anxiety.

During the free skate, Malinin’s routine featured a record-tying seven quads. He began with a quad flip but stumbled on his next jumps. After attempting a quad axel, he fell short and struggled with his planned quad loop. His errors continued, culminating in a fall on what should have been a high-scoring quad salchow-triple axel combination.

Audience Reaction

The Milano Ice Arena was packed with notable figures, including Olympic champion Nathan Chen and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. The atmosphere turned somber as the audience watched Malinin’s misfortunes unfold. His disappointing performance left him visibly shaken.

Conclusion

The Milan Cortina Olympics has been a turning point for Ilia Malinin. His journey serves as a reminder of the pressure and unpredictability within elite sports. As he reflects on this experience, fans hope to see his return to form in future competitions.