Ilia Malinin Delays Press Conference Following Eighth-Place Olympic Finish
U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin faced a challenging performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics, ultimately finishing in eighth place. Following his unexpected results, he postponed a scheduled media conference, which was set for February 13, 2026, in Milan, Italy.
Ilia Malinin’s Eighth-Place Finish
Malinin, a strong favorite for gold, experienced difficulties during his routine. He fell twice, which surprised many fans and experts. His score of 156.33 fell significantly short of his world record of 238.24, set in December.
Performance Details
During the competition, Malinin began with a quad-flip but quickly encountered trouble. He transitioned to a single axel and then attempted a double loop instead of the anticipated quad loop. His difficulties culminated in falls on a quad Lutz and another jump.
| Skater | Score | Medal |
|---|---|---|
| Mikhail Shaidorov (Kazakhstan) | 291.58 | Gold |
| Yuma Kagiyama (Japan) | Bronze | Silver |
| Shun Sato (Japan) | Bronze | |
| Ilia Malinin (USA) | 264.49 | — |
Malinin’s Reflections and Challenges
After the event, Malinin expressed his struggles with the overwhelming pressure of competing at the Olympics. He noted that memories and thoughts flooded his mind before performing, which contributed to his performance challenges. “I was really confident going in, but it went by so fast,” he remarked post-competition.
Malinin’s finish has generated disappointment among Team USA and his fans on social media. Despite this setback, he offered his congratulations to Mikhail Shaidorov for his gold medal achievement.
Looking Forward
As Malinin reflects on this experience, he acknowledges the pressures of elite competition, especially at the Olympic level. His future performances will be closely watched as he aims to regain his status as a top contender in figure skating.
