Inside The Games
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The American figure skater and three-time world champion received the Milano Cortina 2026 recognition for his sportsmanship during the competition, after immediately congratulating the gold medallist despite dramatically falling in the free skate.
At 21, Ilia Malinin was the bookmakers’ favourite to win gold in the men’s event, having remained unbeaten for more than two years. Making his Olympic debut, he appeared to be on course for victory after leading the short programme. However, a fall during his free skate ultimately left him outside the medal positions.
The result came as a shock to the skating world and was a devastating disappointment for Malinin himself. Nevertheless, he did not hesitate to go straight to Mikhail Shaidorov and congratulate the Kazakh skater on his victory. Shaidorov’s performance secured Kazakhstan’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in figure skating.
The gesture captured the world’s attention, and Malinin was immediately nominated for the Milano Cortina 2026 Fair Play award, which was delivered Sunday in Switzerland. The public vote and the jury’s decision were decisive. Among the six nominees, the American was chosen following record-breaking fan engagement, andnamed the winner at the World Fair Play awards ceremony organised by the International Fair Play Committee, held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
“Congratulating Mikhail wasn’t about the results; it was about the journey we share as athletes. Knowing that fans around the world connected with that moment means more to me than any medal,” Malinin said and he was the most dominant figure skater of his generation, renowned for his extraordinary technical ability.
He arrived at the Games having won 12 consecutive international competitions and he was also the first skater to land a quadruple Axel in international competition, a jump requiring four and a half rotations in the air and considered one of the most difficult elements in figure skating.
His achievements since 2023 had established him as the leading contender ahead of his main rivals. In the Olympic final, however, the pressure and technical mistakes took their toll. Malinin failed to land several of his planned quadruple jumps and finished eighth, while Shaidorov seized his opportunity to claim gold.
Malinin and Shaidorov have known each other for years through their long competitive careers. For the Kazakh skater, their relationship has developed into one of ‘friendship and mutual respect’.
They first competed against each other in the junior ranks in 2019 and have remained rivals for medals at major international competitions ever since. During the award ceremony, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry praised Malinin’s gesture.
“Fair play is the essence of the Olympic Movement. Ilia’’ actions reminded us all that excellence is not measured solely by standing on the podium, but also by the respect and solidarity we show our competitors in their most difficult moments”, she said.
