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Biles offers support to Malinin following dramatic free skate
Eleven-time Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles extended a helping hand to U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin after his shocking performance at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, where he plummeted from first place to eighth.
Malinin's struggles on the ice
Malinin, the gold medal favorite in the men's figure skating final, suffered a devastating free skate in Milan. The 21-year-old fell twice and abandoned his signature quadruple axel, a move that had earned him the nickname "Quad God." His errors dropped him from the top of the short program standings to an eighth-place finish.
Following the competition, Malinin shared a raw message on social media, revealing the mental toll of Olympic pressure. "On the world's biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside," he wrote. "Vile online hatred attacks the mind, and fear lures it into darkness, no matter how hard you try to stay sane through endless, insurmountable pressure."
Biles' personal connection to Malinin's experience
Biles, who attended the free skate in person, reached out to Malinin immediately after the event. The gymnastics legend has faced her own battles with mental health at the Olympics, most notably during the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she withdrew from multiple events due to the "twisties"-a mental block caused by stress.
Speaking to Olympics.com, Biles explained her motivation: "I was really worried about how his mental health was going to be. When you're expected to deliver the performance of a lifetime and you don't, I worry how that affects you and how the world views it. I've been through that firsthand, so I went into protection mode."
"It was really heartbreaking. I sent him a few bullet points right away so he knew he had support from someone who understands. Seeing someone who's gone through the same thing and validating his feelings-he was like, 'Oh my gosh, yes, this is exactly how I feel.' Hopefully, that was helpful."
Simone Biles
Olympic pressure and mental health
Biles and Malinin's experiences highlight the intense psychological demands of elite competition. After her struggles in Tokyo, Biles made a triumphant return at the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning three golds and one silver. She emphasized the importance of mental resilience in sports, particularly under the global spotlight.
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics continue through February 22, with medal events streaming live on BBC platforms for UK audiences.
