What is Ilia Malinin's Olympic dilemma?

Ilia Malinin faces a dilemma about whether to compete in both the team figure skating event and the individual men's competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics due to scheduling pressures.

Why is Ilia Malinin's Olympic participation a concern?

Malinin is the favorite for individual gold, and competing in both the team and individual events could lead to fatigue, potentially impacting his performance in the crucial individual competition.

What advice has been given to Ilia Malinin regarding the Olympics?

Brian Boitano, a former Olympic gold medalist, advised Malinin not to skate both the short and long programs of the team event, stressing the importance of trusting other team members.

Home / Sports / Malinin Faces Olympic Skating Dilemma

Malinin Faces Olympic Skating Dilemma

4 Feb

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Summary

Ilia Malinin, favorite for gold, faces a scheduling conflict for the Olympics.
US Figure Skating debates if Malinin should skate both team and individual events.
Malinin prefers focusing on individual gold, potentially skipping team long program.

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.