Ilia Malinin Opens Up About The Surprising Comfort He Wants Before Departing The 2026 Winter Olympics
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Ilia Malinin shared with PEOPLE the one simple thing he hopes to do before the 2026 Winter Olympics officially wrap
The 21-year-old skating star is searching for a little comfort during his final days in Milan
He also opened up about what fans can expect from his upcoming Exhibition Gala performance
Ilia Malinin is preparing to fly back to the United States with an Olympic gold medal around his neck, invaluable experience under his belt and new friendships formed from all over the world — but before he leaves Italy, the figure skating champion has one surprisingly down-to-earth wish he wants to check off his list.
In a Feb. 18 interview with PEOPLE, the 21-year-old initially said he planned to spend his remaining time in Milan simply “enjoying the Olympic experience.” Yet after a brief pause, another idea came to him — something far more personal than sightseeing or celebration.
“A cat cafe would be fun,” Malinin said, his eyes lighting up. “I’m really missing my cats right now, so I would love to go to a cat cafe.”
Despite the global spotlight and the weight of Olympic gold, Malinin’s mind is clearly on home. He is a proud cat dad to two felines who are waiting for him back in Vienna, Virginia.
“I have a cat named Mysti and a cat named Miu Miu,” he said. “Mysti is a black cat while Miu Miu is a white cat. And they’re very cuddly. They’re like one of my new therapy, new therapeutic animals. I’m excited to go home to see them again.”
Between time spent in the Olympic village and a hopeful visit to a cat cafe, Malinin still has one final appearance left on Olympic ice in 2026. He is set to perform in the figure skating Exhibition Gala on Saturday — the traditional end-of-Games showcase that highlights the sport’s biggest stars. Malinin confirmed to PEOPLE that he will take part and spoke warmly about the opportunity.
“It’s honestly just a nice thing,” he said. “Skating in galas is different from competitions because the environment is different and the goal of the skate itself is completely different. … In the gala, it’s really just free emotions and can really show whatever you want and anything you want. So that’s why I really enjoy more like show skating instead of, you know, competitive.”
He also offered insight into the deeper message behind his gala routine, revealing that it will center on something many elite athletes rarely discuss openly.
“It’s a pretty big concept and a topic that I really wanna give a concept of, that mental health really just matters for everyone and especially us as athletes,” he said. “We get into a lot of pressure, a lot of attention, you know, the media’s always on us. Cameras, people, noise; you know, positive, negative stuff.”
“There’s so much that happens behind the scenes that people never get to witness,” he continued. “It’s not always easy or pleasant to carry all of that, but it’s part of being human. It’s what builds our strength and courage, and that’s the message I hope to share through this performance.”
