Ilia Malinin Falters as Chaos Hits Free Skate

Twenty-one-year-old Ilia Malinin entered the free skate in first place with a comfortable five-point lead, but a chaotic night on the ice quickly unraveled his advantage.

Malinin was among several top skaters who struggled to stay upright as mistakes mounted throughout the event. Jumps went awry, landings slipped, and normally reliable routines failed to hold together under difficult conditions.

“I blew it,” Malinin admitted on the broadcast, appearing visibly stunned after his performance. “There’s no way that just happened,” he added moments later, capturing the disbelief shared by many watching.

The problems were not isolated. Multiple contenders faltered during the same segment, prompting questions about ice conditions, timing, and the mounting pressure of a tightly contested competition. What was expected to be a decisive free skate instead became unpredictable and costly for several favorites.

As final results loom, the chaotic session has shifted the narrative from dominance to vulnerability — highlighting how quickly momentum can change when pressure and conditions collide on the sport’s biggest stage.