Malinin’s Redemption: Quad God Lifts Team USA to Gold
Team USA claimed its second consecutive Olympic figure skating team event gold medal Sunday at Milan Cortina 2026, capping a dramatic reversal led by 21-year-old sensation Ilia Malinin. The American star bounced back from a disappointing short program performance to deliver when it mattered most, scoring 200.03 in the men’s free skate to edge Japan and secure victory for the U.S. delegation.
From Second to Savior
Malinin’s journey through the competition showcased both the immense pressure on elite athletes and their capacity for resilience. The two-time World champion stumbled Saturday in the short program, finishing second to Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama with a score of 98.0—well below his typical standard. That misstep left Team USA and Japan tied at 59 points heading into Sunday’s final events, making the men’s free skate a win-or-go-home scenario.
When Malinin took the ice for the free skate, the pressure was unmistakable. But the skater known as the “Quad God” for his revolutionary quadruple jump arsenal delivered five quads en route to 200.03 points, surpassing Japan’s substitute skater Shun Sato (194.86) and securing the team gold. His performance proved decisive after Madison Chock and Evan Bates’ brilliant free dance and Amber Glenn’s competitive women’s free skate earlier in the day.
The Weight of Expectations
How old is Ilia Malinin? At just 21, the figure skater has already become a household name, carrying the burden of being America’s favorite for individual Olympic gold. In recent interviews, he acknowledged the psychological toll of the favorite’s role—something that clearly affected his short program performance but not his resolve.
“It’s a lot to handle, the pressure, all the attention, all the focus on you,” Malinin told media after his initial stumble. “A lot of the times I’ll have bad days where I think about that, and it really shuts me down.” That vulnerability proved relatable even as his technical brilliance remained unmatched when he needed it most.
A Historic Team Performance
Host nation Italy rounded out the podium with bronze, while the U.S. demonstrated the depth of American figure skating. Beyond Malinin’s redemption arc, Glenn made her Olympic debut as the first openly LGBTQ woman to compete in figure skating at the Games, while pair skaters Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea contributed with their fourth-place finish in pair skating.
The team event served as the opening chapter of figure skating competition in Milan, with individual events still to come. But for now, Team USA savored another gold, thanks to one young skater who proved that even gods have bad days—and the character to bounce back.
