Imagine the weight of an entire nation’s Olympic dreams resting on the shoulders of a single 21-year-old. That was the reality for Ilia Malinin, the figure skating prodigy who became America’s golden hope in Milan. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was it fair to pin the U.S. team’s medal aspirations on one skater, no matter how talented? Let’s dive into the drama that unfolded on the ice.
Two days into the figure skating team event, with 11 skaters already having taken their turns, the United States’ chances of clinching gold boiled down to Malinin’s performance. This wasn’t just any skater—this was a world champion who had mastered tricks no other man in history had landed. Yet, even he wasn’t immune to the pressure. During his routine, a stumble drew gasps from the crowd, but what happened next was pure magic: a backflip—his second in as many nights and a rarity in Olympic history—that sent the arena into a frenzy. Still, the real tension was yet to come.
Malinin’s fate wasn’t sealed until Japan’s final skater, Shun Sato, completed his routine. The atmosphere in the Milan Ice Skating Arena shifted from electric to eerily silent as Sato’s score was announced. When it fell short of Malinin’s, the U.S. team erupted in celebration, their 69 points edging out Japan’s 68. Italy claimed bronze with 60 points, but all eyes were on Malinin, who had just secured his first Olympic medal—and the U.S.’s second consecutive team gold in figure skating.
And this is the part most people miss: The U.S.’s victory wasn’t just about Malinin’s brilliance. It was the culmination of a grueling two-day event that blended four disciplines on Saturday and four more on Sunday. The team’s strategy was clear: consistency. Madison Chock and Evan Bates dominated both rhythm and free dance, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea held their ground in pairs skating, and Malinin carried the men’s singles. The only switch-up came in women’s singles, where Alysa Liu skated on Saturday and Amber Glenn took over on Sunday.
Glenn, a three-time U.S. champion, openly expressed feeling ‘guilty’ after her third-place finish on Sunday cost the team the lead in the penultimate competition. She admitted to feeling worn down by training and unfamiliar with the team-event format. Her honesty raises a question: How much pressure should individual skaters bear in a team event? Is it fair to expect perfection when the stakes are so high?
By Sunday’s final discipline, the U.S. and Japan were tied at 59 points, setting the stage for a climactic showdown. Malinin, a Fairfax, Virginia native born into a skating legacy—his parents competed at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics—showed no signs of nerves. He bounded onto the ice, fist-pumping and unzipping his Team USA jacket to reveal a sparkly black top. In contrast, Japan’s Sato was reserved, his focus laser-sharp.
While Malinin is undoubtedly figure skating’s biggest star, he’s not invincible. His Saturday routine, despite the backflip, placed him second behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama. On Sunday, he wasn’t flawless either—a shaky fall forced him to steady himself with both hands. But what set him apart was his willingness to push boundaries. That center-ice backflip wasn’t just a crowd-pleaser; it was a strategic move that elevated his routine’s difficulty beyond his competitors’ reach. His final score of 200.03 wasn’t just a win—it was a statement.
Sato’s score of 194.86 sealed the deal, but the real question lingers: In a sport where perfection is the goal, should we celebrate the risk-takers like Malinin, or is consistency the true mark of a champion? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
