What Happened After Ilia Malinin's 8th Place at 2026 Winter Olympics

Team USA figure skater Ilia Malinin made a successful comeback to the ice at the 2026 Winter Olympics after finishing in 8th place. He performed at the figure skating exhibition gala wearing casual attire on February 21, skating to "Fear" by NF.

During his performance, Malinin incorporated a backflip, a move that was banned until 2024, and expressed emotions as the crowd cheered him on. His skate was themed around the negative impact of social media on young people's mental health.

After failing to podium in the men's free skate, Malinin shared a message reflecting on the challenges of dealing with online hatred and fear, despite external appearances. He described feeling overwhelmed by the pressure during his performance at the Olympics.

Disappointing Finish at Winter Olympics

Ilia Malinin, known as the "Quad God," missed the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics, finishing in 8th place after a series of mistakes during the men's free skate. The anticipated gold-medal favorite struggled with jumps, falling twice and missing key elements in his routine.

Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov claimed the gold, with Japan's Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato taking silver and bronze, respectively. Malinin expressed surprise and disappointment at his performance, admitting he may have been overly confident.

Reflection After the Fall

Following his unexpected performance, Malinin took time to reflect on the challenges faced by athletes on such a grand stage. He acknowledged feeling overwhelmed and lacking control during the crucial moments of his routine at the Winter Olympics.