2026 Olympics Team Event: Men's Free Skate

[SmileHappy34]

After rewatching men's event on replay, it looks like Shun did same loop jump more than once and even in combinations.
He rarely used his toe pick.
He did toe, loop, flip.
But his lut, looked loop.
Ilia did toe picks
Funny how Steven Gogolev has same mistake on quad Lutz at exact same place as Ilia.
Replay before competition they showed a person in blue gloves with a shirt holding the Olympics gold medal.

While rewatching something on previous olympics the medals were on chains not ribbons.
I thought once the ribbon match color of medal they receive

 

[Artemisa]

Could we please stop with this "ultra C" slang? Or comparing adult women with impecable skating and artistry to teenage jumping beans who didn't get the chance to develop as skaters?

well... the motto for the olympics is .. Faster, Higher, Stronger ... so ultra C are important ...

 

[Karoltyna]

well... the motto for the olympics is .. Faster, Higher, Stronger ... so ultra C are important ...

Nah, I kindly ask to stop using expression "ultra C" that is ugly and doesn't belong to figure skating. Not that skaters stop doing quads or 3As.

 

[yfan1]

Ultra C is a Japanese term, and not "slang". I'm sure people can be expected to not use it if they don't like it themselves.

 

[Karoltyna]

Ultra C is a Japanese term, and not "slang". I'm sure people can be expected to not use it if they don't like it themselves.

It was Japanese for gymnastics and wasn't slang in this menaing. It came to FS through russian fans, not that long ago. Yes, I'm not using it, but I'm annoyed when I see it because I associate it with darkest times of figure skating, so I will sometimes write about it.

 

[Seruleane]

That’s a pretty hot take when the guy just did four different types of quads… and two triple axels mind you.

Not exactly resting. And maybe you missed him landing a free skate with SEVEN quads just two months ago?

The U.S. Fed isnt landing these quads for these guys. These guys are landing quads and measuring up.

LOL I guess that is the problem with setting a standard because then when you fail to do 7-quad skates and the quad axel, and only attempt 5 quads - you’re now just coasting.

I have no problem with him winning (and by a lot) when he lands all those difficult elements cleanly. In fact, I'm rooting for him to do exactly that in the singles competition b/c he's obviously capable of much better than what we saw in the team competition. I just think his landings were scratchy and tight tonight, and his PCS was overscored. I expected a sublime Sato to be much closer to a messy Malinin with a near fall. Many on this forum complained the Russian ladies were so overscored in PCS when they had ultra C elements but fell or made mistakes, but why do the standards change when it's someone from the US?

 

[flakyy]

I have no problem with him winning (and by a lot) when he lands all those difficult elements cleanly. In fact, I'm rooting for him to do exactly that in the singles competition b/c he's obviously capable of much better than what we saw in the team competition. I just think his landings were scratchy and tight tonight, and his PCS was overscored. I expected a sublime Sato to be much closer to a messy Malinin with a near fall. Many on this forum complained the Russian ladies were so overscored in PCS when they had ultra C elements but fell or made mistakes, but why do the standards change when it's someone from the US?

Yes indeed. every flat/incorrect edge was noted ... and under/prerotation. There is not much to be heard about the wrong lutz edge of Kaori Sakamoto, instead she seems to be the most wonderful skater one can imagine. She is excellent in a lot of things, but not outstanding in the jumping department. She does not even have a 3a, let alone a quadruple jump. There are a lot of examples around who produce underrotations and edge mistakes that go unnoticed ... Levito, Pinzarrone, Liu ... and that mistakes happen while they do triples.

Apart from that - a lutz/flip with an edge call is the wrong jump, may it be a 4 or 3, so it should be treated as the other jump and - according to the Zayak rule - nullified if necessary. That would make skaters get the edge right or leaving the jump alone.

 

[flakyy]

I really wonder what's going on with Malinin. In December he was stellar, then new boots had to be brought in ... the watered down FS at Nationals followed, but it was still way better what he did in Milano. And he said that the new material started to cooperate a few days ago? Did the situation deteriorate since nationals? It is a boot thing or is he injured? Even in training clips he looks unusually heavy and scratchy.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Could we please stop with this "ultra C" slang? Or comparing adult women with impecable skating and artistry to teenage jumping beans who didn't get the chance to develop as skaters?

Okay I agree the ultra C slang is a bit eye roll worthy but it’s a way to at least refer to elements that are a triple axel or harder.

But also I was comparing only adult skaters in that context. Amber Glenn is hardly a teenager lol. Someone was suggesting Amber and Alysa weren’t in Kaori’s league but I was pointing out that they’re on par.

I’m one of the first to advocate against teenage jumping beans who only lump themselves up technically but retire early before achieving their artistic potential. I have way more respect for skaters like Glenn, Tuktamysheva or Asada with longer careers but still pushing themselves technically. Sakamoto is a queen but I do wish she attempted a triple axel (especially with such a huge, arguably the best, double axel in the field).

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I have no problem with him winning (and by a lot) when he lands all those difficult elements cleanly. In fact, I'm rooting for him to do exactly that in the singles competition b/c he's obviously capable of much better than what we saw in the team competition. I just think his landings were scratchy and tight tonight, and his PCS was overscored. I expected a sublime Sato to be much closer to a messy Malinin with a near fall. Many on this forum complained the Russian ladies were so overscored in PCS when they had ultra C elements but fell or made mistakes, but why do the standards change when it's someone from the US?

Malinin was “messy” on precisely one element - every other element got positive GOE. The loop was tripled and iffy but that’s not a “mistake” (except for him). His base value, even with the 4Z+REP and no quad axel (intentional) was 10 points higher than Sato. His PcS was sub 90, 2.5 points lower than his PB. He didn’t get all his levels so the tech panel was paying attention. https://www.isuresults.com/results/...------FNL-0001MN--_JudgesDetailsperSkater.pdf

Let’s have a look back at Shun’s skate too https://youtu.be/kaSv-q9Ilck?si=hRa6WlDi1_6wnRed - he had a very poor butterfly (4:35) and weak positions/low rotations in his final spin which got a V, he had a slip rounding the corner going into his solo quad toe (2:23). He had a balance check in his footwork and he was noticeably running out of gas (3:43).

This isn’t to take anything away from Shun’s skate but people are acting like he skated flawlessly when the reality is he *jumped* flawlessly. And people are acting like Malinin is so sub-standard by not maxing out his skate in a team event when obviously he’s saving it for individual - and he still did 4 clean quads (one more than Shun) and two triple axels, and only beat him by five points (and was only 1 point higher on PCS - and TBH showed way more fire, passion and speed than Shun did).

 

[gmyers]

Nah, I kindly ask to stop using expression "ultra C" that is ugly and doesn't belong to figure skating. Not that skaters stop doing quads or 3As.

It’s the only term that exists for jumps over triple lutz in women’s skating! There is no other!

 

[museksk8r]

Many on this forum complained the Russian ladies were so overscored in PCS when they had ultra C elements but fell or made mistakes, but why do the standards change when it's someone from the US?

For many reasons; one, a single Russian lady has never been as dominant in this sport as Ilia Malinin. There was always a very quickly revolving door the next year to replace the one who was triumphant for one season, so she never became a household name on the world stage. The exceptions I would say are Tuktamysheva for her longevity and Kostornaia for the beauty and purity of her basic skating. Fans I see online also remember Medvedeva, as she was another exception, who not only won a world title, but also defended it the following season.

Two, the US does not support state sponsored doping, as Russia does, so there’s always going to be a sentiment toward Russian athletes that they are blatantly cheating and thumbing their noses with disrespect to the establishment and all the rules, ethics, and integrity that come with it.

Three, the technique taught and displayed by those young ladies is not proper technique, so it abandons them all once they turn 18; again, the exceptions are Tuktamysheva and Kostornaia because they were fundamentally taught proper technique. Ilia was taught proper technique and his jumps are sublime when he performs them at his best.

Four, Daniil Gleikhengauz is an untalented choreographer who makes all of his tasteless programs look the same with accompanying arm flailing and bizarre leg kicks that do nothing to interpret the music or tell a story. Malinin has very evidently made great strides in his artistic development since his senior debut in 2022 and though his tastes may not be everyone’s cup of tea; it is clear he works hard and doesn’t rest on his laurels. He wants to constantly improve as a skater and I applaud his efforts.

Five, these young ladies come forward after their competitive careers and vocalize the constant abuse to their psyches that we all see and know is happening in the Eteri camp, so to show support for them is to show complete disregard for the mental health of these young humans. No, thank you! They deserve so much better and shame on that camp for exploiting those young ladies at the detriment of their physical and mental health for their own financial gain and fame. It’s truly despicable!

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I really wonder what's going on with Malinin. In December he was stellar, then new boots had to be brought in ... the watered down FS at Nationals followed, but it was still way better what he did in Milano. And he said that the new material started to cooperate a few days ago? Did the situation deteriorate since nationals? It is a boot thing or is he injured? Even in training clips he looks unusually heavy and scratchy.

I agree that his quads aren't peak form (likely due to breaking in skates) based on the team event but this is a bit ridiculous thinking he's injured or deteriorating.

He did a clean quad flip, clean quad toe, clean quad lutz, clean solo triple axel (intentionally not the quad axel), clean quad salchow - into a triple axel.

The sky isn't exactly falling here.

 

[Allikat]

I'm hoping for Ilia doing the back flip again with that landing on one leg. Only ever have seen a French woman do that - and then it was illegal. I am not even a big fan of his, but that was my big highlight. And he doesn't even get points for it.

If Ilia is going to do the back flip, it only looks impressive when he can land it on one foot, as he did in the Team Final. Otherwise I'd rather he not bother with it...two-foot landed back flips are rather ugly unless done in a real piked or layout position, as Robin Cousins used to do them. Ilia has other 'fancy moves' that are crowd pleasers (like his 'raspberry' and other aerial jumps with no revolutions) to use instead. It was Surya Bonaly (spelling) who was the first to land the back flip on one foot. What a shame she never got real credit for it, being 'illegal' at the time.

d

 

[gmyers]

For many reasons; one, a single Russian lady has never been as dominant in this sport as Ilia Malinin. There was always a very quickly revolving door the next year to replace the one who was triumphant for one season, so she never became a household name on the world stage. The exceptions I would say are Tuktamysheva for her longevity and Kostornaia for the beauty and purity of her basic skating. Fans I see online also remember Medvedeva, as she was another exception, who not only won a world title, but also defended it the following season.

Two, the US does not support state sponsored doping, as Russia does, so there’s always going to be a sentiment toward Russian athletes that they are blatantly cheating and thumbing their noses with disrespect to the establishment and all the rules, ethics, and integrity that come with it.

Three, the technique taught and displayed by those young ladies is not proper technique, so it abandons them all once they turn 18; again, the exceptions are Tuktamysheva and Kostornaia because they were fundamentally taught proper technique. Ilia was taught proper technique and his jumps are sublime when he performs them at his best.

Four, Daniil Gleikhengauz is an untalented choreographer who makes all of his tasteless programs look the same with accompanying arm flailing and bizarre leg kicks that do nothing to interpret the music or tell a story. Malinin has very evidently made great strides in his artistic development since his senior debut in 2022 and though his tastes may not be everyone’s cup of tea; it is clear he works hard and doesn’t rest on his laurels. He wants to constantly improve as a skater and I applaud his efforts.

Five, these young ladies come forward after their competitive careers and vocalize the constant abuse to their psyches that we all see and know is happening in the Eteri camp, so to show support for them is to show complete disregard for the mental health of these young humans. No, thank you! They deserve so much better and shame on that camp for exploiting those young ladies at the detriment of their physical and mental health for their own financial gain and fame. It’s truly despicable!

We’ll see how long this posts last but you know there was a major coordinated effort by all major federations to stop empty programs! So they have lots of judging seminars (run by American) that say to judges start rewarding movement! Even movement for the sake of movement. To combat the emptiness. So that’s why you had eteri camp do what it did on choreography. It was iSU mandated! You go to judging seminars and you are told what is supposed to get highest scores. There is not supposed to be any subjectivity anymore! Zero!

And who is the author of stupid fat lazy bum? Because it’s not any Russian!

 

[FlyingFeather]

Wow, just got to watching this. What an event! Shun should be so proud of himself. The best performance! And he had a season best. Yes, Ilia was a little out of reach, but Japan should be so proud of this silver. Matteo too coming in clutch! I just love both those teams.

 

[Allikat]

So Miura/Kihara won twice, Kaori won twice and Yuma won.
Chock /Bates won twice an Malinin won once. In the end that was enough to win the event.It sounds strange to me but at least so is it.
.The difference is in dance in the Rhythm dance

Japan had five wins and the US had three. Although I may disagree 'slightly' on certain judging, according to the 'team rules', it seems US did win fair and square. However, if instead of assigning points according to finish ranking, actual scores had been added up and used to determine medalists, then Japan would have come out ahead of the US and won gold. I guess it just 'is what it is'.

 

[Allikat]

I really wonder what's going on with Malinin. In December he was stellar, then new boots had to be brought in ... the watered down FS at Nationals followed, but it was still way better what he did in Milano. And he said that the new material started to cooperate a few days ago? Did the situation deteriorate since nationals? It is a boot thing or is he injured? Even in training clips he looks unusually heavy and scratchy.

Actually I wondered something similar myself. I truly hope he is all right, and not just trying to mask an injury or whatever. I think he is wonderful and I truly enjoy his skating--even his artistry is improving. Thus far at the Olympics he has shown himself to be 'less than stellar', but so far, he has managed to do his job. Nobody can be perfect all of the time, not even Ilia. I am hoping for far better skates for him in both his individual events! Winning would be so wonderful for him!

I gather certain posters here have thought maybe I disliked Ilia or something, just because I thought Japan would likely win over US, and then felt that Shun did 'win' the Team Final--judges felt otherwise--but nothing could be further from the truth! I dislike NO skaters or countries. I look forward to the best possible skates from all of them!

 

[Allikat]

No she doesn't.

Actually she does--US got 'awarded' Team gold for the Beijing Olympics, and that counts as a win even though US initially won silver, due to the disqualification on the Russian team and their 'move' to be 'awarded bronze' instead, She was on that team, and also on this current US 2026 team which won Team gold last night. Why is that not 'two olympic gold medals'? They are both team medals; neither is individual, but still...

 

[saine]

Actually she does--US got 'awarded' Team gold for the Beijing Olympics, and that counts as a win even though US initially won silver, due to the disqualification on the Russian team and their 'move' to be 'awarded bronze' instead, She was on that team, and also on this current US 2026 team which won Team gold last night. Why is that not 'two olympic gold medals'? They are both team medals; neither is individual, but still...

Alysa wasn't on the Team Event for Beijing. Karen Chen competed both segments of it. It is only one Olympic medal for Alysa because of that.