Olympic Figure Skater Ilia Malinin Breaks Silence After Shocking 8th Place Finish: “I Blew It”
Ilia Malinin is opening up about his internal struggles.
After the Team USA figure skater—who was projected to win men’s gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics—came in eighth place following his free skate, the 21-year-old reflected on the outcome.
“On the world’s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside,” he captioned a Feb. 16 Instagram post featuring footage of himself on the ice. “Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by the noise. Vile online hatred attacks the mind and fear lures it into the darkness, no matter how hard you try to stay sane through the endless insurmountable pressure.”
“It all builds up as these moments flash before your eyes,” he added, “resulting in an inevitable crash. This is that version of the story.”
Ilia concluded his message by teasing a possible special appearance in the near future, adding, “Coming February 21, 2026.”
