Ilia Malinin arrived at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina carrying a weight few athletes ever experience. By the time the Men’s Figure Skating event began, Ilia Malinin wasn’t just a contender – he was the favorite by far.

The 21-year-old Ilia Malinin was heard on a hot mic lamenting his lack of Olympic experience and how it affected him at the 2026 Games.

The American superstar handled his loss with grace.

This is the first Olympics in 50 years where the move hasn't been illegal—and Malinin’s backflip has long been known as the “Bonaly flip.”