Ilia Malinin overwhelmed by ‘thoughts and memories’ in Olympic free skate

American determine skater Ilia Malinin revealed his thoughts was flooded with “ideas and reminiscences” earlier than his efficiency within the males’s free skate remaining on the Winter Olympics on Friday.

Malinin, one of many high contenders to win gold for the US, surprisingly fell twice throughout his routine. He dropped all the best way to eighth place and missed the rostrum.

“I had so many ideas and reminiscences proper earlier than I acquired into my beginning place, and I feel it nearly overwhelmed me a little bit bit. I have been by means of rather a lot in my life, a number of dangerous and good experiences,” Malinin advised NBC Washington in a post-match reporter bash.

“So I simply really feel prefer it’s the stress of being eager for that Olympic gold medal greater than something. It was simply one thing that is out of my management proper now.”

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Ilia Malinin of the USA competes in determine skating throughout the males’s free skating program on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 13, 2026. (Ashley Landis/AP Photograph)

Malinin highlighted the impression of the “stress of the Olympic Video games” throughout his first ever Olympic Video games.

“The stress of the Olympics is admittedly one thing else, and I do not assume many individuals perceive that. They solely perceive that from inside and once I began this competitors, particularly at present, I felt actually assured, actually good,” he stated. “Nevertheless it really glided by so shortly that I did not have time to course of it.”

Malinin took solace in understanding he’ll return to the U.S. with the crew gold medal he helped win earlier this week as he tries to mentally course of what occurred Friday.

“I feel that is positively a constructive for me. And actually, possibly it makes me assume that I want to grasp why that occurred within the particular person occasion. I feel going into this competitors, I made positive that I might put together myself for not less than 4 packages or 4 performances,” Malinin stated.

“So actually, I have never had time to completely perceive what was happening.”

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Ilia Malinin of the USA reacts after competing within the males’s singles on the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on the Milano Ice Skating Enviornment in Milan, Italy, February 13, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Photographs)

Malinin dominated the brief program earlier this week and entered the day with a lead of greater than 5 factors with a rating of 108.16.

However his final efficiency was his worst.

When his routine began Friday, Malinin did a quad flip to start out however then settled for a single axle. He then had a double loop as an alternative of a quad loop.

He then fell on a quad Lutz try and fell on one other bounce shortly after. He scored a 156.33, a far cry from the world report of 238.24 he set in December and the 200 he routinely hits within the free skate.

Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan gained the gold with a complete rating of 291.58, a private report. His rating of 198.94 in Friday’s free skate was additionally the best of his profession.

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan took silver and Shun Sato, Kagiyama’s teammate, took bronze.

Malinin, who usually information complete scores within the 300s, settled for simply 264.49. His private finest is 333.81.

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Ilia Malinin of the USA reacts after competing within the males’s singles on the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on the Milano Ice Skating Enviornment in Milan, Italy, February 13, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Photographs)

Malinin congratulated his Kazakhstani competitor instantly after the occasion.

Whereas sitting on the bench, Malinin stated that if he had been in Beijing 4 years in the past, he wouldn’t have skated as poorly as he did. Malinin was 17 when he was omitted of the squad in favor of veterans. That was a telltale signal of a psychological battle, which Malinin confirmed nearly instantly after he left the ice.

Malinin’s end led to widespread disappointment amongst Staff USA and skating followers basically on social media.

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