Malinin Faces Olympic Skating Dilemma

Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old figure skating sensation and two-time world champion, faces a scheduling challenge at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. As the strong favorite for the men's individual gold medal, Malinin's participation in the team competition presents a strategic dilemma for U.S. Figure Skating.

The team event takes place from Friday through Sunday, immediately preceding the men's individual competition, which begins Tuesday, February 10th. While Malinin's presence in both the team's short and long programs would significantly boost the U.S. medal chances, it could also impact his performance in the individual event.

Sources indicate the current plan is for Malinin to skate the team's short program. U.S. officials will then assess the medal standings to decide if he is needed for the team's long program. This decision weighs his potential to "water down" his program to three quads versus the risk of fatigue before his individual events.

1988 Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano advised against Malinin skating both team events, emphasizing the need to trust younger skaters like Andrew Torgashev and Max Naumov. Boitano believes Malinin should not be put under pressure to compete in both, stating that other skaters on the Olympic team must be relied upon.

Despite the external pressures, Malinin maintains a calm approach, focusing on his own progression rather than solely on winning. He embraces the moment with joy and bravado, acknowledging the high expectations while also expressing a desire for fans to relate to him as a human being, not an "untouchable" athlete.