Ilia Malinin Postpones Press Conference After Eighth-Place Olympic Finish

The American figure skating star struggled in the men's free skate, falling twice and finishing well off the podium.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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U.S. Olympic figure skater Ilia Malinin did not hold his scheduled media session on Saturday, a day after he finished eighth in the men's free skate at the Winter Olympics. Malinin, who was considered a gold medal favorite, fell twice during his routine and scored a 156.33, far below his usual world-record-setting performances.

Why it matters

Malinin's unexpected struggles at the Olympics were one of the biggest surprises of the Winter Games, as the young American had been dominant in the lead-up to the event. His poor performance has raised questions about the intense pressure and mental challenges of competing at the Olympic level.

The details

Malinin revealed that his mind became "flooded with thoughts and memories" right before his routine, which he believes may have "overwhelmed" him. He fell on a quad Lutz attempt and another jump shortly after, scoring well below his personal best. Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won the gold medal, while Japan's Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato took silver and bronze respectively.

  • Malinin's press conference was originally scheduled for Saturday.
  • Malinin finished eighth in the men's free skate on Friday.

The players

Ilia Malinin

A U.S. Olympic figure skater who was considered a gold medal favorite but struggled in the men's free skate, finishing in eighth place.

Mikhail Shaidorov

The Kazakhstani figure skater who won the gold medal in the men's event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Yuma Kagiyama

The Japanese figure skater who won the silver medal in the men's event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Shun Sato

The Japanese figure skater who won the bronze medal in the men's event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“I just had so many thoughts and memories flood right before I got into my starting pose, and almost, I think, it maybe overwhelmed me a little bit. I've been through a lot in my life, a lot of bad and good experiences.”

— Ilia Malinin (NBC Washington)

“The pressure of the Olympics, it's really something different, and I think not a lot of people understand that. They only understand that from the inside and going into this competition, especially today, I felt really confident, really good.”

— Ilia Malinin (NBC Washington)

What’s next

The judge in Malinin's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him to compete in the upcoming national championships.

The takeaway

Malinin's struggles at the Olympics highlight the immense mental and emotional challenges that even the most talented athletes can face when competing on the world's biggest stage. This incident serves as a reminder that success at the highest levels of sport requires not just physical skill, but also the ability to manage the intense pressure and expectations that come with being an Olympic favorite.