Ilia Malinin, the “Quad God” who himself endured a heartbreaking 8th-place finish in the men’s singles at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, stepped up as a true teammate to comfort fellow U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn after her devastating short program performance.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE (published Feb. 18-19, 2026), the 21-year-old Malinin revealed exactly what he told Glenn shortly after she left the ice in tears on Tuesday night. Glenn, one of Team USA’s “Blade Angels,” had a strong start with a clean triple Axel but popped her final triple loop into a double—invalidating the element and costing her crucial points. She scored 67.39, landing in 13th place and essentially out of medal contention heading into the free skate.
Malinin, who could relate all too well after his own flood of negative thoughts and missed elements in the men’s free skate just days earlier, reached out right away. He shared:
“I’ve told her that, you know, this is something that we all go through. It’s, you know, it’s not always a pleasant feeling, but it’s something that we need to embrace and we have to move on from no matter what, because no matter what happens, we always have to get up and go do it again.”
He emphasized the mutual support within the team: Glenn and others had been there for him after his tough outing, and now he was returning the favor. Photos from the event show Glenn embracing Malinin, highlighting the tight-knit bond among U.S. skaters amid the pressure cooker of the Olympics.
This moment of vulnerability underscores the mental toll of elite figure skating—Malinin has spoken openly about not being fully ready for the “insurmountable pressure” and spotlight, even considering therapy post-Games. Glenn, too, described her meltdown as “soul-crushing,” not just over the lost medal shot but losing the joy she wanted to feel on Olympic ice.
Fans are praising the wholesome teammate vibe: “Real ones lift each other up 💙” and “Ilia showing why he’s more than quads—he’s got heart.” With the women’s free skate coming up (Alysa Liu in strong position for a potential medal), Team USA is leaning on each other to push through.