Ilia Malinin skating with freedom, unsure of what's next | Exclusive
Ilia Malinin doesn't feel any pressure during Stars on Ice after 2026 Winter Olympics, while he hasn't decided when he will compete again.
ANAHEIM, CA — For the first time in a long time, when Ilia Malinin steps on the ice, pressure isn’t lurking behind. For as talented as the 21-year-old is, racking up championships left and right with his signature jumps, it was a stressful one. The expectation to win everything, with anything less viewed as a letdown, can easily get to you – as it did at the 2026 Winter Olympics .
With the gold medal his to take, and the final piece to cap off one of the most dominant runs in figure skating, Malinin struggled in the men’s free skate , with his program unraveling into several mistakes that kept him off the Olympic podium, the worst competition result of his senior career since March 2022. After admitting the pressure got to him , and handling the moment with grace, he rebounded by winning his third consecutive world championship . Yet, even in victory, the expectation was to come back with another win.
With each step on the ice, pressure might as well have been on skates, too. That’s what makes this time so enjoyable. No stress or weight on his shoulders.
Just doing what he loves – and continuing to wow everyone in the process. “There's no pressure of judges and having to perform perfectly,” Malinin told USA TODAY Sports. “You really can just do absolutely everything, and just enjoy what you want to do.
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