Olympic Figure Skater Ilia Malinin's Mom, Also His Coach, Skips Milan Competition

Tatiana Malinin, a former Olympic skater, stays off the radar to avoid the pressure of watching her son compete at the 2026 Winter Games

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Team USA figure skater Ilia Malinin shared that his mom and coach Tatiana Malinin, a former Olympic skater, won't be joining him in Milan to watch him compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Tatiana gets too nervous when Ilia competes, so she'll stay off the radar until after he's done skating.

Why it matters

Ilia Malinin is one of the top figure skaters on Team USA, known as the "Quad God" for his ability to land difficult quadruple jumps. His mom Tatiana, who is also his coach, is a former Olympic skater herself, but she avoids watching him compete in person due to the immense pressure. This highlights the challenges elite athletes and their families face at the Olympics.

The details

Ilia Malinin, 21, told Today that his mom Tatiana Malinin, a former Olympic skater for Team Uzbekistan, won't be joining him and his dad Roman Skorniakov in Milan to watch him compete in the Men's Free Skate. Tatiana gets "super nervous" when Ilia competes, especially at a high-pressure event like the Olympics, so she'll stay away until after he's done skating.

  • Ilia Malinin is competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

The players

Ilia Malinin

A 21-year-old figure skater competing for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, known as the "Quad God" for his ability to land difficult quadruple jumps.

Tatiana Malinin

Ilia Malinin's mom and coach, a former Olympic skater for Team Uzbekistan who gets too nervous to watch Ilia compete in person.

Roman Skorniakov

Ilia Malinin's dad, who will be attending the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan to watch his son compete.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's probably going to be only me and my dad who's going to go. My mom gets super nervous when I compete, and especially in Milan, that's going to be so much pressure for her. So she'll probably just stay off the radar for a few days until after I'm done skating.”

— Ilia Malinin, Figure Skater (Today)

The takeaway

Ilia Malinin's story highlights the immense pressure and nerves that elite athletes and their families face at the Olympics, even for those with extensive experience in the sport. While Tatiana Malinin's absence may be disappointing, her decision to stay off the radar shows the lengths parents will go to support their children and protect their mental health during high-stakes competitions.