American figure skater Maxim Naumov sent support to Ilia Malinin, hyping him up after the latter’s heartbreaking feat in the men’s singles at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Malinin was leading the scoreboard coming into the free skate event, but fell in eighth after multiple falls in his signature maneuvers.
Maxim Naumov, on the other hand, debuted at the Games and finished twentieth overall. However, he was far from disappointed, as his journey to the Olympics was marked by tragic losses, doubt, and remarkable resilience.
Maxim Naumov Extends Support to Ilia Malinin after Olympic Heartbreak
Malinin, popularly known as ‘Quad God’, the only skater to successfully land a fully rotated quadruple axel, was one step away from making the Beijing Games team. The following years were focused solely on success, both at the national and global levels, setting him up for his inaugural Games in Milan-Cortina.
He entered as a heavy favorite and showcased his skills, encompassing crucial jumps and acing quad attempts, earning the runner-up finish behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama. Nevertheless, his score of 98.00 helped Team USA top the podium standings and made him an Olympic champion at 21.
In the men’s individual short program, he placed first and was a gold medal hope for Team USA. But that dream ended when he couldn’t lead the field, fading to 8th. After the loss, fellow figure skater Naumov stepped in as his strongest support, noting that athletes can get weighed down by pressure as their self-worth and identity become tied to their performance.
“My heart goes out to Ilia because I know how difficult it is when all that pressure is on you, for you, the expectation to just produce this one thing, and a lot of times, skaters or athletes in general, their performance is so tied in with their self-worth that it is a massive blow to us personally. Identity,” Naumov told Access Hollywood.
He also said that Malinin’s scores will not diminish the love he receives from around the world, especially for inspiring fellow athletes by showing great sportsmanship. The reigning World champion congratulated the winner, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, and his gesture underscored the importance of mental health.
READ MORE: ‘We’ve Got Your Back’ Ilia Malinin’s Olympic Setback Draws Emotional Message From Mikaela Shiffrin
Despite the Olympic heartbreak, the two-time World Champion has no plans of stopping, and has already committed to perform in the popular skating gala, the final figure skating event of the Olympics. Moreover, Malinin is also looking to defend his World title at the World Championships next month.
In a turn of events, the gala will reportedly welcome the 8th-place finisher to the program, a role typically reserved for podium finishers. This decision was rooted in the global phenomenon he has become, winning the past four US Championships titles and three consecutive Grand Prix Final honors.
