One of the biggest favorites for the gold medal, American skater Ilia Malinin, has suffered a sudden decline in the free program at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, finishing only in eighth place.
The 21-year-old, known as the “Quad God” for his quadruple jump prowess, entered the competition as the absolute favorite, but consecutive mistakes and two falls during his performance knocked him off the podium. Malinin himself admitted after the competition that he was overwhelmed by the pressure and excitement of the Olympics. 
The gold medal went to Kazakh Mikhail Shaidorov, while Japanese Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato completed the podium. 
Also in the stands was legendary gymnast Simone Biles, who publicly supported Malini after the performance, applauding her in a moment of solidarity that attracted great attention.
The result is considered one of figure skating's biggest surprises in recent years, showing that even the most dominant athletes can cope with the immense Olympic pressure.
