American gymnastics legend Simone Biles offered emotional support to figure skater Ilia Malinin after his unsuccessful performance at the Milan Olympics. Malinin, a favorite for the gold medal, finished only eighth after a series of errors in his free program. Biles, who herself experienced a psychological crisis during the Tokyo Olympics, emphasized that she perfectly understands the pressure and 'invisible battles' that the young athlete faces in the spotlight.

Support from a legend

7-time Olympic champion Simone Biles personally comforted Ilia Malinin after his sensational fall to 8th place in the Olympic final.

Favorite's drama

The surefire gold medal candidate, Ilia Malinin, had a disastrous performance with two falls, unable to handle the pressure and online hate.

Mental issues

Athletes are speaking openly about mental health; Malinin mentioned invisible battles, and Amber Glenn spoke about depression.

During the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, a moving meeting occurred between two great figures of American sports. Simone Biles, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, personally supported Ilia Malinin after his dramatic performance in the men's singles final. Malinin, nicknamed the 'quad god' due to his unique ability to perform the quadruple Axel quadruple Axel, was a surefire candidate for victory. However, during his free program, he fell twice, which pushed him down to eighth place in the final standings. Biles admitted she immediately felt empathy for her compatriot upon seeing his suffering on the ice. Psychological pressure in elite sports became a topic of public debate after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when Simone Biles withdrew from several finals due to the twisties – a dangerous loss of spatial awareness in the air. On social media and in interviews, Malinin admitted he struggled with invisible battles and online hate, which negatively impacted his mental condition. Biles, who in the past has grappled with the phenomenon known as the twisties, stated she felt genuine concern for the skater's mental health. The athlete wrote him a message and then met with him to help him process the sports trauma. She emphasized that in moments of such immense pressure, athletes need someone who truly understands their situation. The gold medal in this event was surprisingly won by a representative from Kazakhstan – Mikail Shaidorov. „I've been through a situation like that myself, so I immediately went into protection mode. I was really worried about his mental state.” — Simone Biles Meanwhile, another American figure skating star, Amber Glenn, has also spoken openly about her struggles with depression and anxiety about returning to competition at the highest level. Her story, bolstered by support from Madonna herself, shows a broader trend in the US team, where athletes' mental well-being is beginning to be treated on par with physical preparation. The clear failure of the favorite, 21-year-old Malinin, thus became a catalyst for an important discussion about the emotional costs of Olympic success in the age of social media. [{"position": 1, "name": "Mikail Shaidorov", "info": "Kazakhstan", "result": "Gold"}, {"position": 8, "name": "Ilia Malinin", "info": "USA", "result": "Off the podium"}]

Mentioned People

  • Ilia Malinin — American figure skater, record holder in quadruple jumps, who placed 8th at the 2026 Olympics.
  • Simone Biles — The most decorated gymnast in history, who supported Malinin after his defeat.
  • Amber Glenn — US figure skating representative, speaking openly about struggles with depression.
  • Mikail Shaidorov — Figure skater from Kazakhstan, unexpected Olympic winner.