Ilia Malinin’s Toughest Olympic Week Ended With His Most Genuine Moment
The Winter Olympic Games have marked both the highest highs and the deepest lows of Ilia Malinin’s career.
He opened the event riding a wave of momentum, with “Quad God” commercials looping constantly as he helped carry Team USA past Japan to claim gold in the figure skating team event.
Just a week later, everything changed. In Milan, Malinin found himself staring up at the arena lights, replaying the night in his head. A devastating free skate in the men’s individual event dropped him from a commanding first-place position all the way down to eighth.
Yet through the disappointment and outside criticism, Malinin never disappeared.
Since the conclusion of the men’s final, he has been a constant presence in the stands, showing up for every American teammate — from the pairs competition to the women’s short program, and ultimately Thursday night, when Alysa Liu delivered the skate of her life.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin poses for a photo during Managing Victory at Winter House on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy
Liu entered the women’s free skate sitting in third place, considered an outsider for the gold. But within the span of an hour, flawless technical execution paired with striking artistry transformed her from dark horse into Olympic champion.
Broadcast cameras caught Malinin completely off guard in the stands, already on his feet, clapping and shouting as he watched his close friend finish her historic performance.
He was beaming as Liu secured Team USA’s first individual women’s figure skating gold medal in more than two decades.
io 🤝 Ilia Malinin dopo l’esibizione di Alysa Liu #milanocortina2026 pic.twitter.com/1BXitYsprI
— ghita🌷 (@Maghi_98) February 19, 2026
While his competitive schedule in Italy has come to an end, Malinin isn’t finished yet. Alongside his fellow American skaters, the “Quad God” will return to the ice on Saturday for the Olympic Exhibition Gala — the traditional farewell where skaters thank the crowd that supported them throughout the Games.
