“Looking back at that, I know that now I’ll be able to understand how that feels,” he shared, “so that way, I can take a different approach leading up to the next Games, hopefully.”
In the wake of his defeat, Ilia—who did earn a gold medal in the figure skating team event—reflected on having all eyes on him, including the critics whose commentary was hard to block out.
“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,” he wrote in a post on Instagram Feb. 16. “It all builds up as these moments flash before your eyes, resulting in an inevitable crash. This is that version of the story.”
But Ilia made it clear his story is still unfolding, cryptically concluding the post by writing, “Coming February 21, 2026.”
