MILAN — Ilia Malinin didn’t want to skate the long program in the Olympic figure skating team competition. He wanted to rest up for the more important individual men’s event beginning Tuesday. His coaches felt the same way. It was a definite no.
But when U.S. Figure Skating called upon him late Saturday night, saying the event was going to be too close and potentially lost without him, he had no choice but to say yes.
It turned out to be the best decision of his young career.
On a night in which the Olympic team competition finally arrived as a major event after three underwhelming attempts in 2014, 2018 and 2022, Malinin saved the United States from an embarrassing final-day collapse and delivered the Americans the well-earned gold medal.
“Absolutely, this is definitely the smartest decision I've made,” Malinin told USA TODAY Sports during an exclusive interview after the medal ceremony. “I got a chance to just really feel the ice, feel the environment, just feel the atmosphere. I'm just so proud of everyone and myself for what we put out there tonight.
