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Ilia Malinin is reflecting on how his mental well-being impacted his performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. The young figure skater, renowned as the “Quad God,” did not achieve the results he hoped for, finishing eighth in the men’s singles after several unexpected falls.
On Friday, February 13, the 21-year-old athlete took to social media to share his struggles, noting, “Even those who seem the strongest can face hidden struggles within. The brightest memories can sometimes be overshadowed by negativity. Online vitriol can cloud your mind, pulling you into a dark place despite efforts to withstand relentless pressure.”
The two-time World champion — initially favored to bring home the gold medal — took to Instagram on Sunday, February 15, posting a compilation of clips from his skating career with a candid caption about the mental challenges he faced as a teaser for something he is seemingly releasing later this month.
Malinin continued, “As these moments accumulate, they can lead to an unavoidable breakdown. This is my story, coming February 21, 2026.”
Following his performance, Malinin spoke with NBC, expressing his thoughts on his Olympic experience. He admitted, “Perhaps I was overly confident, thinking everything would go smoothly,” acknowledging that he misjudged the Olympic atmosphere.
In an interview with NBC after his skate, Malinin said, “Maybe I was too confident that it was gonna go well,” admitting he underestimated the Olympic environment.
“I think it was definitely mental,” he added. “Now, finally experiencing that Olympic atmosphere, it’s crazy. It’s not like any other competition. It’s really different.”
The reporter also asked Malinin what his “first thought” was after finishing his routine.
“I blew it. That’s honestly the first thing that came to my mind was, ‘There’s no way that just happened,’” he confessed. “I mean, I was preparing the whole season, you know, I felt so confident with my program.”
While Malinin did not take home a medal in the men’s individual, he did win gold in the team event.