Malinin, Olympic Games
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On Friday, USA's Ilia Malinin had the worst performance of his career. Here's why he will skate one more time at the Olympics.
Naumov, 24, shared a few words of wisdom he’d like to relay to Malinin, 21, with PEOPLE, words that come after the star skater failed to make the podium in a men’s figure skating final where he was expected to win it all.
Ilia Malinin struggled to hold back tears as he fell twice during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics figure skating finals. The 21-year-old figure skating prodigy took eighth place in the finals, shocking fans and leaving them heartbroken for him.
Ilia Malinin struggled in his free skate, falling twice and bailing on other jumps, finishing in 8th at the 2026 Olympics in a shocking result.
A shocking collapse by the U.S. star allowed the 21-year-old from Kazakhstan to win his country’s first gold medal in figure skating.