The Winter Olympic Games have been among Ilia Malinin’s best and worst memories.

He started off the event on top of the world, “Quad God” commercials playing on loop as he carried the United States of America over the line against Japan to win the figure skating team event.

Figure skaters Alysa Liu, Ilia Malinin talk world championship wins

Then, a week later, he was looking up at the lights of the venue in Milan, wondering where it all went wrong. He collapsed in the free skate of the men’s individual competition and went from a dominating first-place position to ending eighth.

But through all of the strife and criticism, Malinin has been a fixture at every one of his American teammates’ competitions since the men’s final.

He was there for his friends during the pairs competition, the women’s short program, and Thursday night when Alysa Liu delivered a performance of a lifetime to win gold.

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin poses for a photo during Managing Victory at Winter House on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy

Liu came into the women’s finals in third place with an outside shot of taking home the top prize. But after displaying flawless technical skills and beautiful artistry, she went from dark horse to new champion in the span of an hour.

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The Olympic broadcast cameras caught Malinin unaware, reacting to Liu’s performance, fully off his feet, clapping and screaming for his close friend.

Malinin was all smiles as Liu won the first individual women’s figure skating gold medal for Team USA in over 20 years.

Although his competitive tenure in Italy is over, Malinin, along with other American skaters, still has one more performance. The “Quad God” will perform on Saturday at the Olympic Exhibition Gala, the traditional sendoff for the skaters to say goodbye to the Olympic crowd that’s been supporting them for two weeks.