No Medal, No Judges — How Ilia Malinin’s Gala Skate Became His Most Powerful Olympic Moment
NEED TO KNOW
- Ilia Malinin returned to Olympic ice on Feb. 21 for the annual figure skating exhibition gala
- He received a standing ovation following his performance
- The skater had previously revealed his program would address mental health
Just over a week after his quest for individual Olympic gold ended in disappointment, Ilia Malinin stepped back onto Olympic ice for the traditional figure skating exhibition gala.
The 21-year-old delivered a deeply resonant performance on Saturday, Feb. 21, skating to “Fear” by NF — a routine he had earlier suggested would focus on mental health. After his challenging final skate on Feb. 13, Malinin shared that a surge of “negative thoughts” overtook him moments before he began, disrupting his concentration and contributing to his eighth-place finish.
Skating in a sweatshirt, Malinin opened the program by swiping away notification sounds embedded in the music — a visual metaphor for the impact of social media on his mental health. As the performance concluded, highlighted by his trademark backflip, he stood visibly moved, absorbing the prolonged roar of applause from the crowd.
Malinin had previously shared insight into the gala program in an Instagram post dated Feb. 16.
“On the world’s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside,” he wrote. “Even the happiest memories can end up tainted by the noise. Vile online hatred attacks the mind and fear lures it into the darkness, no matter how hard you try to stay sane through the endless insurmountable pressure.”
The exhibition gala is a time-honored post-competition event featuring medalists from all three completed figure skating disciplines, along with notable skaters from around the world. This year’s participants include Malinin, Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, Mikhail Shaidorov, and Guillaume Cizeron with Laurence Fournier Beaudry.
With no judges and no medals on the line, skaters are encouraged to relax, experiment, and show a more personal side of their skating. Earlier in the evening, Malinin also took part in a group routine with his teammates, contributing to the celebratory atmosphere.
In an interview with PEOPLE several days after the competition, Malinin reflected on his Olympic experience, noting that the lessons he gained from defeat proved especially valuable.
“I think honestly, you learn more from losing than you do winning, so I think I’m definitely gonna be able to learn a lot from this so I can come back better and stronger and really just know what I was up against,” he said. “It’s one thing to experience the Olympics for the first time, but it’s another to go again and know what’s gonna happen and really know how to prepare yourself better.”
He also spoke openly about supporting teammate Amber Glenn, who struggled in the short program before rebounding with a strong free skate.
“I’ve told her that, you know, this is something that we all go through,” he said. “It’s not always a pleasant feeling, but it’s something we have to accept and move past, because no matter what happens, we always have to get back up and do it again.”
To learn more about Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, visit people.com for continued coverage before, during, and after the Games. The Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics begin Feb. 6 and will air on NBC and Peacock.
