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Milan Today
By the People, for the People
Team USA Struggles with Disappointment at 2026 Olympics
Star figure skater Ilia Malinin among latest Americans to fall short of expectations in Milan
Published on Feb. 14, 2026
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The United States' performance at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics has been marked by disappointment, with star figure skater Ilia Malinin's eighth-place finish in the men's event the latest setback for Team USA. Despite having a large contingent of 232 athletes, the U.S. currently sits in third place in the overall medal count, trailing Italy and Norway.
Why it matters
The struggles of high-profile American athletes at these Olympics have raised questions about the state of U.S. winter sports development and the ability of the country's top competitors to deliver on the biggest stage. This comes as Team USA aims to maintain its status as a winter sports powerhouse on the global stage.
The details
Malinin, who was considered a gold medal favorite, fought back tears after a mistake-filled free skate performance that left him in eighth place. 'I was not expecting that,' he said. 'I felt going into this competition I was so ready. I just felt ready going on that ice. I think maybe that might have been the reason is I was too confident it was going to go well.' Despite the U.S. having its largest-ever Olympic team, the country currently sits in third place in the overall medal count with 10, trailing Italy and Norway who are tied for the most medals with 18 each.
- The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics are currently underway.
- Ilia Malinin's disappointing performance occurred on February 13, 2026.
The players
Ilia Malinin
A star American figure skater and gold medal favorite who finished in eighth place in the men's event at the 2026 Olympics.
Team USA
The United States' Olympic team, which brought a record 232 athletes to the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
What they’re saying
“I was not expecting that. I felt going into this competition I was so ready. I just felt ready going on that ice. I think maybe that might have been the reason is I was too confident it was going to go well.”
— Ilia Malinin (nypost.com)
The takeaway
The struggles of high-profile American athletes at the 2026 Olympics have raised concerns about the state of U.S. winter sports development and the ability of the country's top competitors to deliver on the biggest stage. As Team USA aims to maintain its status as a winter sports powerhouse, these disappointing results will likely prompt a deeper examination of the factors contributing to the team's underperformance in Milan.
