In the wake of Ilia Malinin’s disappointing 8th-place finish in men’s singles at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics – where the 21-year-old “Quad God” struggled in the free skate with two falls and technical errors after leading the short program – his parents, former Olympians Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, shared heartfelt reflections on their son’s journey from a reluctant beginner to world champion and how they supported him through this tough moment.
Tatiana and Roman – both elite figure skaters who competed at the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics for Uzbekistan – spoke in interviews about Ilia’s growth. They recalled the early days when they hesitated to let him pursue skating seriously, knowing the immense sacrifices involved. “We wanted him to have a normal life,” Tatiana said, echoing their 2024 ISU interview. “But Ilia begged to skate, and once he started, he never wanted to stop. He built his own programs as a kid – that passion came from him.”
They emphasized how Ilia’s resilience was shaped by their family approach: no pressure to win at all costs, focus on hard work, patience, and enjoying the process. Roman, who coaches Ilia alongside Tatiana, noted that even after failures, they always reminded him: “It’s okay to fall – what matters is getting back up. You’ve already achieved so much.”
After Ilia’s Olympic free skate collapse (he admitted the “unreal pressure” overwhelmed him, leading to negative thoughts flooding in), his parents were quick to rally around him. Tatiana, who stayed home during the Games to avoid transmitting her nerves (as she often does), reached out immediately with messages of unconditional love and pride. “We told him we’re prouder of the person he is than any medal,” she shared. “He sacrificed his youth, dreams, and peace for this – but a medal doesn’t define him. His heart, courage, and character do.”
Roman, who was in Milan and turned away in anguish during the final moments, later embraced Ilia off the ice and reinforced: “Failure stinks, but it’s not the end. You learn more from it than winning. We’re with you every step.” They encouraged Ilia not to dwell on the disappointment, pointing to his strong short program and team gold contribution as proof of his talent.
The family dynamic – rooted in empathy, experience as former athletes, and a belief in growth through adversity – helped Ilia bounce back quickly. He channeled the emotions into a stunning gala performance, including a double backflip collab with Adam Siao Him Fa and a powerful routine to NF’s “Fear,” showing he’s already moving forward.
Ilia’s parents’ words serve as a reminder: behind the “Quad God” is a young man supported by unconditional love, and this Olympic setback is just another chapter in his story. Fans worldwide have rallied, praising the family’s grace and Ilia’s maturity in handling the moment.