Ilia Malinin’s unexpected stumble in the men’s free skate on Feb. 13, 2026, in Milan left the U.S. figure skating favorite visibly shaken and finishing eighth after a program marked by several errors. That result — and other near-misses for American medal hopefuls — has shaped a sobering first week for Team USA at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics. Despite sending its largest-ever delegation of 232 athletes, the United States sits third in the overall medal standings behind Italy and Norway, the latter two tied with 18 total medals while Norway leads on golds with eight.
Key takeaways
- Ilia Malinin finished eighth in the men’s free skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan on Feb. 13, 2026, after a free program that contained multiple mistakes.
- Malinin, widely regarded as the favorite for gold, reacted emotionally at the rink and said he had expected a stronger performance.
- Team USA’s delegation to Milan–Cortina is a record 232 athletes, its largest-ever Winter Olympic contingent.
- Through the first week of competition, the United States ranks third in the medal table, trailing Italy and Norway, both credited with 18 medals.
- Norway holds the most gold medals so far, with eight, putting it ahead on the gold-count tiebreaker.
- Several U.S. athletes have underperformed relative to pre-Games expectations, shifting focus to recovery and the second half of the schedule.
Background
The United States arrived in Milan with high expectations across multiple disciplines, buoyed by recent world titles and a deep roster that made headlines in pre-Games coverage. Figure skating in particular carried heavy attention: Ilia Malinin entered the Olympics as the sport’s dominant technical force and a leading favorite for the men’s gold. U.S. Winter Olympic teams historically face intense scrutiny; when marquee athletes falter, national attention and narrative pressure often intensify.
The size of the U.S. delegation — 232 competitors — reflects long-term investment across winter sports and an emphasis on depth as well as top-end talent. Still, high expectations increase the relative impact of single-event disappointments on public perception. In past Games, the U.S. has recovered from early setbacks by winning later in the schedule, but the timing of top athletes’ performances matters for momentum and media coverage.
Main event
On Feb. 13, Malinin took the ice for the men’s free skate expected to cement his gold-medal bid. Instead, technical errors and visibly tense moments punctuated the program, producing a score that placed him eighth overall. He left the arena fighting back emotion, acknowledging the gap between his expectations and the final result.
Judges recorded multiple under-rotations and sequence errors that reduced technical element scores and opened the door for rivals to climb. The mistakes were uncharacteristic for a skater whose international results had suggested consistent top-tier execution. Competitors who had trailed Malinin in prior months delivered cleaner programs on the day, altering the podium calculus.
Across the U.S. team, similar narratives emerged: athletes with strong pre-Games form produced routines or runs below their season bests. Some clashes can be attributed to the compressed Olympic schedule, travel and acclimation, or the heightened pressure of an Olympic stage. Team staff signaled a focus on regrouping and supporting athletes as the Games proceed.
Analysis & implications
Malinin’s result has ripple effects beyond figure skating. When a marquee athlete underperforms, national expectations shift and media attention concentrates on cause and consequence rather than broader team performance. For Team USA, the immediate implication is reputational: narratives of “underachievement” can gain traction even if the overall medal count remains competitive by the Games’ end.
Sporting performance at the Olympics is influenced by preparation, travel, and psychological readiness. Malinin himself suggested he felt unusually confident going into the free skate, a state that can paradoxically increase risk if it reduces cautiousness around execution. Coaches and sport psychologists often emphasize process-oriented routines to counter both overconfidence and overpressure.
From a medal-table perspective, the U.S. remains well positioned to add podiums in events later in the schedule. A third-place standing this early, while disappointing to some, is not determinative; the second half of the Olympic program includes high-medal-yield disciplines where U.S. competitors are contenders. The political and funding implications at home are limited in the short term, but sustained underperformance could prompt mid-term evaluations of support structures.
Comparison & data
| Country | Total medals (so far) | Golds (so far) |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | 18 | – |
| Norway | 18 | 8 |
The table above reflects the standings cited after the first week: Italy and Norway tied on total medals at 18 each, with Norway ahead on golds (eight). The United States sits in third place overall; the original report did not specify the U.S. total at that snapshot. Medal tallies can shift rapidly as speed skating, skiing, and snowboard events — often high in medal yield — continue.
Reactions & quotes
“I was not expecting that,” Malinin said after the free skate, describing surprise at the outcome and visible disappointment.
Ilia Malinin / Athlete
Team USA was described in reporting as “still in third place in the Olympic medal race, trailing only Italy and Norway,” underscoring the gap between expectations and current standings.
News coverage (Milan 2026 reporting)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Malinin’s pre-competition confidence directly caused the mistakes is not independently verified and remains an athlete assessment rather than confirmed cause.
- No official team statement attributing broader U.S. shortfalls to scheduling, travel fatigue, or judging patterns has been released; such links are speculative without formal comment.
Bottom line
Ilia Malinin’s eighth-place finish on Feb. 13 is a high-profile disappointment in a week when several U.S. athletes have fallen short of pre-Games expectations. The result highlights the thin margins of Olympic competition, where favorites can be felled by a single imperfect performance. For Team USA, the immediate priority is recovery and refocusing: with dozens of events remaining, the medal table can and often does shift dramatically over the course of the Games.
For observers and stakeholders, this stretch will be a test of depth and resilience. The U.S. delegation’s size offers multiple pathways to podiums in coming days, but the narrative around “underperformance” will linger unless offset by a strong run of results. Close attention to athlete management, coaching adjustments, and mental preparation will be decisive for whether this early pattern reverses.
Sources
- New York Post — news outlet reporting on Malinin and Team USA’s early Milan 2026 results