2026 Olympics: Men's Free Skate

[museksk8r]

Maybe his federation could've taken better care of him, both 4 years ago and in the past few months, I don't really know... Feels like they've been through this before.

I do believe his manager and camp should have enforced a no media requests until the end of the competition policy. I recall back in 2018, the media was so super focused on everything Nathan Chen did, but in 2022, the media attention was noticeably less intense before his competition ended. Same with Simone Biles in 2016 and 2020/21 versus 2024. In 2024, cameras were following her everywhere, but I don’t recall her doing as many interviews as she was doing in her first 2 OGs. These athletes are built up like such sure things and the fact that they are human and deserve space and consideration to their mental health appear lost to the intense scrutiny by the media.

 

[reneerose]

It was an emotional reaction in a state of shock right after his skate. I was so impressed by how he got himself together and gave such a warm congratulations to Mikhail and a gracious interview to Andrea before going backstage. I imagine he'll regret saying it and reflect that Mikhail and Shun didn't skate in the 2022 Olympics either, but they bested him today. So I don't see any need to pile on.

I still don't like that NBC forced him into an interview with Andrea so immediately after a crushing loss.

 

[4everchan]

I just realized I got 3 of my predictions right at this crazy event

I think I have like 45 points..

 

[TallyT]

Didn't Hanyu Terry that too in 2022? It probably cost him a medal too.

Quite possibly, or maybe he knew this was his last chance before he went pro and it was the last thing he really wanted.

I read somewhere that this does mean Yuzu still has the only credited 4A on Olympic protocols... not sure if that is true, someone correct me but if so it is something for the guys to aim for. Next time.

Or - given the unholy menning mess the tech race has shown us -

Not.

 

[Seven Sisters]

What's this screaming?

The souls of Andrew’s enemies

 

[Artistry]

Something needs to change with the way a top athlete is built 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.

Ilya came up with Quad God himself, and branded himself as God. I have felt nothing when he skates emotionally. Hope he works on his artistry, spins and humility. Nathan Chen had plenty of quads, but I don’t recall him being so cocky.

 

[ilovebudgies]

About Nathan in 2022, I think the biggest sports psychologist he had was Yale. In college, and particularly at an elite Ivy League, you're exposed to all kinds of possibilities and ideas, meet movers and shakers in the world, and it really puts the Olympics into perspective as something not very important in the grand scheme of things. I think it helped his nerves that he had a very clear career plan for becoming a doctor after the Olympics.

I don't understand why Ilia and his team decided to go for a 4A at the Olympics, or even a 7 quad program, when he's only skated that cleanly once. He did not need either to win.

I still don't know how Yuna Kim did what she did in 2010, with a whole country's attention and hopes resting on her shoulders.

 

[Skatingcat]

I do not begrudge him anything he said in the heat of the moment after such a crushing performance. All of these athletes train so hard and long for this, but none had as much of the world telling them they were a lock as Ilia. It's a lot on young shoulders. And the aftermath will not be easy for him,

I certainly don't blame him for what he said in the heat in the moment. I am sure he was surprised at how he flamed out, and sad and disappointed and angry. Given all the media attention, and the you will win in a cakewalk fawning, I can see how it would be even more crushing.

I hope he will be kind to himself, and take care of himself. I heard he wants to stick around until 2030, so I hope he stays healthy enough to pull a Nathan Chen and when the gold on his second Olympics

 

[freedomlover]

thanks, I was wondering the same thing!

He was crashing out on Twitter about Jason between GP season and US Nationals.

 

[NanaPat]

Spencer skates tomorrow in his event, for sure there are many other people to talk with Ilia. Or he and Adam can put on hoodies and go to a bar.

Tomorrow is a day off. Pairs skate Sunday.

 

[freedomlover]

Didn't Hanyu try that too in 2022? It probably cost him a medal too.

It did, but between potentially landing the jump and/or a potential silver or bronze I think he calculated his payoff and went for it. Did he have to win a third olympics? Not at all. He already proved he could withstand pressure on the highest level.

And with all respect to this generation of skaters- Hanyu in his senior years got to skate against Plushekenko (albeit the team event), was nipping at Chan's heels, had equal competitors in Fernandez and Chen, the up and coming Kolyada, Uno , Boyang and Kageyama.

He grew with the pressure and while he didn't win much from 2018 onwards, he was always a threat.

 

[Moon322]

If he gets more PCS than Petry ... I will really mad

He indeed got higher PCS than Petr. 81 vs 80 PCS.

Quite possibly, or maybe he knew this was his last chance before he went pro and it was the last thing he really wanted.

I read somewhere that this does mean Yuzu still has the only credited 4A on Olympic protocols... not sure if that is true, someone correct me but if so it is something for the guys to aim for. Next time.

Or - given the unholy menning mess the tech race has shown us -

Not.

It's true, Yuzu has an attempted 4A on his protocol from the 2022 Olympics. Ilia did a 1A today.

 

[Karoltyna]

Tomorrow is a day off. Pairs skate Sunday.

Technically Sunday is tomorrow, it's already Saturday in Europe.

 

[FlossieH]

Really speaks to the pressure of the Olympics and the difficulty of the quads that so many men succumbed to the pressure. RIP to Adam's axis (which was supposedly going "well" all week until tonight). RIP to Yuma's skating skills. RIP to Ilia's quads. Objectively speaking this competition was pretty cursed and didn't go the way most (including the audience) wanted. We didn't get the 4A. We didn't get a dominating tech victory. We didn't get many medaling programs that we'd want to rewatch.

But then, the silver linings. Living in Canada I'm really proud of Stephen for putting out two quality programs after all his struggles these past years. Boyang didn't have a meltdown. Kevin was struggling the whole way through but fought the whole way through. Adam's StSq was mesmerizing even after the falls. Daniel managed to survive his skate in front of a home audience despite food poisoning. Shun medaled in both the individual and the team event. And Mikhail should be extremely proud of himself, also knowing that Denis would have been so proud of him as well.

One thing we did have was what I believe was the first 3A-Eu-4S in Olympic history - and that came from the Olympic champion. When Shaidorov did it for the first time last year, it was the first time anyone had done it in an ISU competition, and I believe that the Olympics count in the ISU records even though they are controlled by the IOC. The Olympic champion has made history with one of his elements - it just seems to have got a bit overlooked because it wasn't the skater or element everyone was expecting.

 

[skatedreamer]

He was crashing out on Twitter about Jason between GP season and US Nationals.

Thanks...even though I'm disappointed to hear it.

 

[skatedreamer]

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

This pretty much sums up my feelings about today.

 

[Dreamer57]

It's third olympics in the row JPN won two medals at men's event. Amazing.

Nice spot!

 

[yfan1]

I still don't know how Yuna Kim did what she did in 2010, with a whole country's attention and hopes resting on her shoulders.

She's special ^.^

 

[yfan1]

It's third olympics in the row JPN won two medals at men's event. Amazing.

They should have had it in 2010 as well, to be fair...

 

[Allikat]

I have been offline until about 2 hours ago due to my modem quitting on me. I missed the entire Men's FS and frankly am so weary after chasing around town trying to get a new modem,
then tolerating multiple phone calls in order to get back online that I don't have time just now to read all these posts. I saw the results--congrats to all the medalists! And several more did great free programs from the looks of things. Just am wondering what happened to Ilia, and is he all right? I worry about him--having a bad skate can happen to the best of skaters, but---not THAT bad, unless injury. illness or boot/blade issues occurred.

Last night, it was my UPS battery backup that quit on me. Luckily I had a new, unused one so am using that--hopefully it'll keep working. I'm ready to tear my hair out over so many things going wrong at once which have been expensive to fix--won't mention the non PC related incidents which cost another $3,000 on to of the PC mess. But I have had it, am ill and worn down, and just plain too old for this kind of nonsense.

Don't think I have any way to watch the Men's now--I was watching skating thru the German channel using my VPN. To my knowledge all those events were/are live only. If anyone knows otherwise, could you please let me know?

Sorry for the length of this post--but I am concerned about Ilia and would appreciate some kind of response. Thank you.