Ilia Malinin, the American figure skating phenomenon widely known as the “Quad God,” entered the 2026 Winter Olympics as the top favorite for men’s figure skating gold. At just 21 years old, Malinin already had a dazzling resume — including multiple World Championship titles, national championships and a reputation for pushing the technical limits of the sport with unprecedented quadruple jumps.
Who Is Ilia Malinin? Age & Background
Born in 2004 in Virginia, USA, to former Olympic figure skaters, Ilia Malinin started skating young and quickly became known for his athletic prowess and technical ambition. By his late teens, he had already landed landmark jumps like the elusive quad axel, something no other skater had done in major competition.
At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Malinin was just 21 — a youthful age in figure skating but one at which he had already amassed world titles and record-breaking free skate performances.
Free Skate at the 2026 Olympics — What Happened?
Malinin entered the men’s free skate as the gold contender after a strong short program. Expectations were sky high that he would deliver a dominating free skate featuring signature quadruple jumps. Unfortunately, the performance did not go as planned.
Instead of the big technical execution fans expected, Malinin struggled with several key elements:
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He fell multiple times, including a disastrous fall on a quad lutz and another jump later in the program.
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His planned quad axel attempt was downgraded and became a single axel, costing him valuable technical points.
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Under-rotations and errors compounded, resulting in a performance well below his standard.
These mistakes weren’t just costly — they effectively removed him from medal contention. Commentators noted that Malinin lost nearly 72 points due to these errors, a staggering number in elite figure skating.
Did Ilia Malinin Win Gold in Free Skate?
The short answer: No. He did not win individual Olympic gold in the men’s free skate.
Despite being the clear favorite, Malinin’s free skate struggles resulted in a drop to eighth place overall in the individual competition — a stunning result given his status and previous dominance.
Instead, Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan delivered a clean performance and claimed the historic Olympic gold medal. Malinin, though visibly disappointed, showed good sportsmanship by congratulating the new champion afterward.
Team Success and Free Skate Highlights
While his individual free skate didn’t deliver a gold medal, Malinin contributed significantly to the U.S. Olympic figure skating team gold earlier in the Games with strong performances during the team event.
Additionally, before the Olympics, he had set world records in free skate at events like the Grand Prix Final and World Championships, consistently showcasing his potential to redefine technical achievement in figure skating.
Why Did Malinin Falter?
Observers and experts suggest a combination of factors:
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Olympic pressure — The mental strain of performing on the sport’s biggest stage may have affected his consistency.
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Technical ambition — Malinin’s routines often push the limits, and when even one element goes wrong, the scoring impact is magnified.
Despite the setback, many commentators believe this moment will become part of his long career narrative rather than define it.
Conclusion
Ilia Malinin, at 21 years old, remains one of figure skating’s brightest stars. His free skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics didn’t yield the individual gold many expected, due to uncharacteristic falls and jump errors that dropped him to eighth place. However, his contributions helped the USA secure a team gold, and his previous record-breaking free skate performances remind the world of his extraordinary talent and potential for future victories.
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