Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old U.S. Olympic figure skater whose astonishing career met with an equally astonishing disappointment last Friday when he feel twice and failed to medal with his worst score in nearly four years, posted a cryptic social media video today that makes mention of “fighting invisible battles on the inside,” “vile online hatred attacks” and “an inevitable crash.”
The video, which intersperses footage of the skater’s previous victories with head-in-hands images immediately after the Olympics fail, all set to a musical score that sounds at times like a horror film trailer, seems to tease a “version of the story” that is planned for Saturday, February 21.
Although the Instagram post does not explain the “Coming Soon Feb. 21” tease, the date is when Malinin is scheduled to participate in the traditional exhibition gala to close the Olympic figure skating program.
“On the world’s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside,” the caption to the video reads. “Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by the noise. Vile online hatred attacks the mind and fear lures it into the darkness, no matter how hard you try to stay sane through the endless insurmountable pressure. It all builds up as these moments flash before your eyes, resulting in an inevitable crash. This is that version of the story. Coming February 21, 2026.”
Though he failed to medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Games’ individual event, he had already clinched the U.S. team’s gold medal earlier. His performances were among the most highly anticipated of the Winter Games, and his stunning loss was the highest profile story of the television coverage.
Watch the Instagram video below.
