Ilia Malinin took the ice for the first time since his heartbreaking free skate that stunned the Winter Olympics and he had a message to share.
While his first performance came during the Team USA skate mid-way through the Exhibition Gala, where he jumped and backflipped with a smile on his face alongside his golden teammates.
But his real moment came later in the event, when Malinin took the ice solo.
He had been teasing his “version” of his Olympic journey would come on Feb. 21 — and this was it.
Skating to “Fear” by American rapper, singer and songwriter NF in a fitting selection, Malinin appeared on the ice with a sweatshirt that had the word “fear” upside on it.
In an emotional performance, Malinin appeared to be receiving messages on an imaginary cell phone as attempted to block out all the noise.
“This experience here will fuel him even more,” Olympic gold medalist and commentator Tara Lipinski said.
When Malinin finished, the crowd roared and he appeared emotional.
Watch below:
The 21-year-old Malinin, who had been the clincher for the U.S. in the team event, was the heavy favorite to also win the men’s gold medal, especially after a winning short program. But Malinin struggled so mightily in his free skate that he failed to make the podium at all, and he later acknowledged that the weighty expectations had caused him to buckle.
Yet in even in defeat, Malinin managed to win over a whole new legion of fans with the way he comported himself. He was the first to congratulate Mikhail Shaidorov, who had won the gold medal, and then bravely answered every question lobbed at him.
“Even with that skate,” Malinin said, “the crowd never stopped cheering. They were there supporting me. It’s honestly why this is a very special sport, because not a lot of sports you have that privilege of not only being an athlete, but you’re also an artist.”
His final performance was part of the fan favorite gala event, which brings back some of the biggest skating stars for figure skating with no medals, no scores and no pressure.
The International Skating Union had said Malinin was “ready to deliver something special.”
And he did just that.
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