Ilia Malinin, Team USA’s dominant figure skater and reigning world champion, took to social media Monday with a stark video that not only highlighted his triumphs but also offered a candid look at the immense pressure athletes face when competing at the pinnacle of their sports. The moment came three days after he finished in eighth place in the individual men’s event during the Milano Cortina Winter Games, heavily favored for gold yet beset by multiple falls and failing to execute his signature quadruple axel.
Faced with such a disappointing outcome, Malinin acknowledged the relentless pressure athletes endure but also took pride in finishing strong. “It wasn’t my best skate,” he said at press conference that Friday. “I was definitely something I wasn’t expecting, and it’s done now; there’s no changing anything even if I would have loved to.”
Following his performance, Malinin shared a video on Instagram juxtaposing his triumphant moments with the candid image of himself slumped in despair. The caption under the video hinted at an upcoming “version of the story” set for Saturday during an exhibition event.
“We appear strong and victorious on stage, but inside, we battle unseen battles,” Malinin said. “Even our happiest memories can be tainted by negativity. Vile online hatred corrodes minds, fear leads them into darkness no matter how hard one tries to remain calm amidst the relentless pressure of these moments flashing before your eyes.”
Team USA has been proactive in addressing this internal struggle, with Dr. Jessica Bartley, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s senior director for psychological services, emphasizing that athletes face an unprecedented level of scrutiny due to the infrequent occurrence every four years alongside massive crowds.
“We are preparing first-time Olympians,” explained Bartley. “We involve veterans who have been through it before because stepping into these moments feels like one’s first time but is actually well-practiced by then.”
Gracie Gold, a former Olympic bronze medalist and an outspoken advocate for mental health, echoed similar sentiments. “It can be isolating to feel alone on stage,” she shared with CBS News. “The aquarium effect—everyone watching intensifies the sense of being isolated when things don’t go as planned.”
Despite any pre-game preparation, Gold noted that athletes need tools to maintain their composure during these high-pressure moments.
In the coming weeks, Malinin will compete in the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague.