2026 Olympics: Men's Free Skate

[museksk8r]

NBC set this up to happen with the constant talk of Malinin not being beaten since 2023.

 

[Jammers]

He hasn't score 156 points in almost 5 years since he was a Junior. I'm speechless.

 

[Minz]

#24

Ilia Malinin | UNITED STATES

Age: 21 | ISU SB: 238.24
Coaches: Tatiana Malinina, Roman Skorniakov, Rafael Arutiunian
Music: "The Ball" by Asaf Avidan, "The Smell of the Sea" by Alan Mayer, "Code Duello" by Power-Haus and Sergiu-Dan Muresan; choreo by Shae-Lynn Bourne

---

1. 4 Flip
2. 1 Axel*
3. 4 Lutz
4. 2 Loop*
5. Change Camel Spin 3
6. Step Sequence 3
7. 4 Lutz + REP x (fall)
8. 4 Toe + Euler + 3 Flip x
9. 2 Salchow* x (fall)
10. Choreo Sequence
11. Flying Sit Spin 3
12. Change Combo Spin 4

TES: 76.61
PCS: 81.72
Deductions: 2.00

Total Segment Score: x

---

SP: 108.16
FS: 156.33

Total Event Score: 264.49

KEY: * = Popped Jump | SB = Season's Best | PB = Personal Best | WR = World Record | x = bonus

 

[Warwick360]

What a dumpster fire this event was......including the music choice of the champion.

But congrats to the 3 medallists!

 

[FlossieH]

Leave Ilia alone, stupid media...

 

[brens78]

I’ve been saying since Nathan Chen I that they (the press) need to quit pre awarding the OGM. It’s too much pressure.

They do this for Australian athletes mainly in the summer games and when it doesn’t eventuate, media goes into full meltdown. They’re already doing so this morning when a gold medal favourite won silver.

 

[TT_Fin]

Isn't it Olympic history Misha's first combo?

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

NBC is devastated. They were pinning all his hopes on him.

I mean, he was one of the most guaranteed golds. He's just been so dominant. But so was Valieva last time.

I'm still so shocked. Very happy for Shaidorov and Kazakhstan. He did a 3A+Eu+4S at the Olympics. The program wasn't the best skating but the athleticism was there (and it wouldn't have felt right for Yuma to win with that skate either). Five quads to win Olympic gold - that's worthy.

 

[TontoK]

Not the way I think any of us predicted things.

Congrats to Misha, a very worthy Olympic Champion.

But, man, what a collapse by the top three from the short.

And just to be contrary, I'll gripe. Shun should have taken the silver.

 

[shan22044]

Gogolev came 5th, way better than people expected

It's been a roller coaster. And not the good kind.

 

[CoyoteChris]

YOU KNOW WHAT FCK YOU JUDGES YOU ROBBED MY DARLING OF HIS BRONZE YOU FCKING ROBBED HIM BLIND I HATE YOU ALL AND MAY YOU ROT IN HELL FOR THIS

Sad but true. He was great....

 

[cocteautwin]

I think it's cruel to show Ilia's interview right now. However, he handled it with class.

 

[4everchan]

Nah, Yuma's jumps really weren't jumping.

I didn't see anything .. just saying that I would have preferred a full package skater on top

 

[Skater Boy]

Stephen came SECOND in the FS at the Olympics! Incredible feat!!!

and like 1.2 points or so from bronze. Had he skated later he'd have a bronze medal.

Yuma is SO SO happy for Shun, while Shun is in tears couldn't believe he medaled

I'm so glad to see that cheered Yuma up after his own devastating skate. Another silver doesn't taste so bad now

Dang. I wanted Gogo to win a bronze to make up for Piper and Paul losing gold. Canada is getting short changed here. But who would have guessed Gogo would do so well here. Or for that matter that Piper and paul skated so so so well Bu now Canada is left with Lia and Trennt to lead the pairs with a scarey Deanna and Max just fighting to stay on their feet.

 

[reneerose]

We just witnessed a second Sarah Hughes moment in Olympic figure skating.

I wanted Mikhail to freak out and jump and down like Sara did though, he had post-free skate shock. He didn't expect it.

 

[YuBluByMe]

This competition was a hot mess and the men have been terrible all season. Except the team event. I love this podium, though.

 

[nickp91]

first of all THIS IS FOR YOU DENIS TEN!!!

 

[Karoltyna]

I'm dead and resurrected at the same time. Strange feeling.

 

[Warwick360]

NBC set this up to happen with the constant talk of Malinin not being beaten since 2023.

Another Midori moment. But atleast Midori walked away with a medal.

Makes one wonder how Yuzu and Yuna, and even Mao managed to do what they did. Wish media would have learned a lesson by now.

 

[Blades of Passion]

Something needs to change with the way a top athlete is build up so much. All the media hype, the quad god stuff. The camera right in your face. all the commercials. It's all way too much. There are other athletes at the Olympics that should be heard from and given time. They put way too much on Ilia.

Ilia made a mistake trying to go for the Quad Axel. His coach before he went out should have been saying "JUST GO CLEAN, EVERYONE SKATED BAD, YOU HAVE THIS EASILY".

Instead he missed the 4Axel and it got in his head and he deteriorated.

He also needs to rethink the program layout going forward, of planning the second 4Lutz in combo, instead of doing a combo earlier in the program. His score plummets if he misses that second 4Lutz.