Ilia Malinin, once considered one of the US’s biggest stars in figure skating, has undergone a transformation after his shocking eighth-place finish in the men’s individual event at the recent Olympics. The 21-year-old skater, who was known for his quad jumps and “Quadg0d” nickname, said he felt like he had aged “a lot” through these Olympics. Malinin credits his experience with athletes Tom Brady and Simone Biles for giving him support and realizing that there’s more to life than just competition success. He now plans to focus on mental health and use his platform to help others do the same.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2026/02/19/ilia-malinin-olympic-disappointment