Two longtime rivals — themselves Olympic gold and silver medalists — surprised fans this week by publicly voicing strong support for Team USA’s Ilia Malinin following his disappointing Olympic performance.
While much of social media zeroed in on the “Quad God’s” two costly falls, the decorated pair urged fans and commentators to look beyond the mistakes. In candid remarks, they offered perspective that only athletes who have stood on the Olympic podium can truly provide.
According to the medalists, the narrative surrounding Malinin has been overly simplified. “People see two falls,” one of them said. “We see the pressure of carrying a sport on your shoulders at 21.” Their comments shifted the focus from technical errors to the invisible weight elite athletes carry into the Olympic arena.
They emphasized that the Olympics are not just another competition — they are a once-every-four-years moment where expectation multiplies. Malinin entered the Games as a generational talent, the first to land a quadruple Axel in competition, and the face of modern men’s skating. That spotlight, they suggested, changes everything.
One of the skaters pointed out that even medalists have experienced programs that didn’t reflect their true ability. “The world sees the result. They don’t see the exhaustion, the mental grind, the years of buildup,” he said. The implication was clear: a single skate does not define an athlete’s caliber.
The pair also highlighted what many overlooked in the immediate aftermath — Malinin did not quit mid-program. Despite early mistakes, he continued attacking difficult elements, refusing to scale back. That resilience, they argued, speaks louder than a final placement.
Their defense comes at a time when Malinin’s emotional social media posts have fueled additional concern about how he is handling the setback. The medalists’ words appeared aimed at cooling the criticism and reframing the conversation.
Fans reacted strongly to the show of solidarity. Many praised the Olympic veterans for using their credibility to add context, rather than criticism. Others noted that such support from respected champions may carry more weight than any online debate.
In elite sport, perspective often comes from experience. Having navigated Olympic highs and lows themselves, the two rivals seemed intent on reminding the public that greatness is rarely linear.
For Ilia Malinin, the backing from Olympic medalists sends a powerful message: two falls may dominate headlines, but they do not erase talent, impact, or future potential.
