Why did Ilia Malinin fall from first place in the Olympic figure skating final?

Ilia Malinin made multiple mistakes, including two significant falls during his free skate performance, which caused his score to drop dramatically from first to eighth place.

What was Ilia Malinin's performance like in the 2026 Winter Olympics figure skating event?

Ilia Malinin led the short program but faltered in the free skate, attempting difficult jumps like the quad axel, which he downgraded, and landing only three of his seven planned quadruple jumps, ultimately finishing eighth.

Did Ilia Malinin win any medals at his Olympic debut?

Yes, Ilia Malinin secured a gold medal as part of the United States' figure skating team event, which was his first Olympic medal.

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Malinin's Olympic Dream Crumbles: Falls Cost Gold

14 Feb

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Summary

Ilia Malinin collapsed in the men's figure skating final, falling from first to eighth place.
Two major falls, including on a planned quad axel, significantly impacted his score.
Despite the individual disappointment, Malinin secured a team gold medal for the USA.

Malinin's Olympic Dream Crumbles: Falls Cost Gold

Ilia Malinin, heavily favored for gold in the men's figure skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, experienced a stunning downfall. After a commanding lead in the short program, Malinin made multiple errors in his free skate, including two falls, resulting in a score that dropped him out of medal contention entirely.

His performance at the Milano Ice Skating Arena was marked by uncharacteristic mistakes. A planned quadruple axel attempt turned into a single, and he only landed three of his seven planned quadruple jumps. These errors, compounded by the pressure of the Olympics, led to an eighth-place finish.

Despite the individual disappointment, Malinin contributed to the United States' figure skating team event gold medal. This marked his Olympic debut and his first Olympic medal, though it was overshadowed by his unexpected free skate performance.

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