Canadian figure skating icons Patrick Chan and Kurt Browning reflected on the shocking Olympic moment when American star Ilia Malinin faltered in the men’s figure skating competition at Milano Cortina 2026. Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” was the favorite for the gold but stumbled, finishing eighth after an error-filled free skate.
Chan empathized with Malinin, drawing parallels to his own near-miss at the 2014 Sochi Games. Despite being on the verge of victory, Chan made mistakes in his routine and settled for silver. Browning, a four-time world champion, also shared his experience of Olympic disappointment in 1992 and 1994.
The pressure of the Olympics, with its rare occurrence and global audience, can lead to unexpected outcomes in sports. Both Chan and Browning highlighted the intense mental and physical toll that competing in the Olympics can take on athletes.
Malinin’s media attention and the anticipation surrounding his signature quad axel jump added to the pressure. When he attempted the jump in his final skate but faltered, it set off a chain reaction of mistakes. Despite the setback, Chan and Browning expressed confidence in Malinin’s ability to bounce back and turn the heartbreak into a redemption story in future Olympic Games.
