‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin Falls Twice and Finishes Eighth

Intermediate | February 18, 2026

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When “Guaranteed Gold” Suddenly Isn’t

Figure skating fans came into the men’s final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics expecting a coronation. Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old American nicknamed the “Quad God,” was the clear favorite—and he even held a lead after the short program. Then the free skate happened, and everything flipped.

Both Fox News and ESPN reported that Ilia Malinin falls twice during his free skate, and the result was one of the biggest surprises of the Games: he finished eighth overall, off the podium. (Fox News)

A Rough Program: Pops, Doubles, and Two Falls

Fox News described how Malinin started with a quad flip, but then his jump plan unraveled—he “settled” for a single axel, and later did a double loop instead of a quad loop. After that, Fox News said he fell on a quad lutz attempt and then fell again shortly after. (Fox News)

ESPN gave even more detail: Malinin bailed out of his famous quad axel, doubled a planned quad loop, and later fell on a quad lutz (which also cost him the second jump in the combination). They also reported his last jumping pass was supposed to be a quad salchow–triple axel combination, but he fell again (ESPN).

The Numbers That Made It Real

When skaters make big mistakes, the scoreboard gets brutal fast. ESPN reported Malinin’s free skate score was 156.33, which placed him 15th out of 24 in that segment. His total score was 264.49, which locked in that stunning eighth-place finish overall. (ESPN)

And while Malinin struggled, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won Olympic gold, with Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato taking silver and bronze. (ESPN)

What Malinin Said: “I Blew It”

Right after the skate, Malinin didn’t hide behind excuses. Fox News quoted him reacting in disbelief and saying he couldn’t process what happened, then adding: “I blew it.” (Fox News)

ESPN reported something even more human: Malinin said he was hit by overwhelming nerves before he started, and that negative thoughts flooded his mind. For a skater who had looked untouchable for years, the Olympics reminded everyone that the mental game can be as hard as the technical one. (ESPN)

Why This Story Matters (Even If You Don’t Watch Skating)

This isn’t just a sports story—it’s a performance story.

In business (and in life), you can do everything right in training and still face a moment where the pressure hits differently. The lesson isn’t “never fail.” The lesson is: prepare, perform, adjust, and come back smarter. Malinin still showed sportsmanship—ESPN reported he congratulated Shaidorov after the scores came in. That’s a good reminder: even when you lose, you can still act like a pro. (ESPN)

Vocabulary

Favorite (noun) – the person expected to win.
Example: “Malinin was the favorite, but the final result surprised everyone.”
Podium (noun) – the top three places (gold, silver, bronze).
Example: “He missed the podium after a difficult free skate.”
Unravel (verb) – to fall apart or go wrong.
Example: “His jump plan began to unravel after the early mistake.”
Bail out (phrasal verb) – to stop mid-action to avoid a bigger mistake.
Example: “He bailed out of the quad axel and lost a lot of points.”
Planned (adjective) – intended; expected.
Example: “He doubled a jump that was planned as a quad.”
Segment (noun) – one part of a competition.
Example: “He placed 15th in the free skate segment.”
Stunning (adjective) – shocking or surprising.
Example: “The eighth-place finish was stunning for a top contender.”
Pressure (noun) – stress from expectations.
Example: “Olympic pressure can affect even elite athletes.”
Disbelief (noun) – the feeling that something is hard to believe.
Example: “He reacted with disbelief when the score was announced.”
Sportsmanship (noun) – respectful behavior in competition.
Example: “He showed sportsmanship by congratulating the winner.”

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What went wrong during Malinin’s free skate?
Which detail surprised you most (the bail-out, the doubles, the scores, or the final rank)?
Why do you think Ilia Malinin falls twice in such a high-pressure moment?
How do the numbers (156.33, 264.49, 15th in the segment) help you understand the result?
What does his reaction (“I blew it”) tell you about his mindset?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Have you ever “choked” under pressure? What happened, and what did you learn?
Do you think pressure helps performance or hurts it more often? Why?
What habits help people stay calm during important moments (interviews, exams, presentations)?
In your job or school life, what would “sportsmanship” look like after a failure?
How should people respond to public criticism after a mistake?

Related Idiom

“The wheels came off” – a situation suddenly goes wrong or falls apart.

Example: “After the early mistake, the wheels came off and the rest of the program became a battle.”

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