2026 Olys Mens FS PBP - Habemus Pop-am

[AnnM]

Shun and Misha win for the wildest emotional swings of the night

Shun looking over frequently at Yuma during the medal ceremony for hints on what he should do was so sweet and wholesome.

 

[MsZem]

Yu-Hsiang Li beat Ilia's TES

I was talking to a Taiwanese friend who mentioned that Li is probably in for a massive bonus because what he achieved (the result, not the beating Ilia's TES) is a breakthrough for Taiwan. So yay for him

 

[bardtoob]

I am currently re-watching the competition and I am starting to believe the chewed up ice theory. You can clearly see it in Fa's program onwards. However, Grassley might have been experiencing it.

Yuma survived because he was less dependent on jumps.

 

[MacMadame]

I got home and watched the Venue Feed replay through my fingers. I didn't realize until a few skaters in that the Venue Feed tile is only the last two groups.

That's weird. What did they do with the first two groups that we saw when watching it live? (Asking NBC, not you.)

 

[overedge]

I watched the NBC coverage tonight with Tara and Johnny and was very pleasantly surprised. Obviously, they were unprepared for the results but I was impressed with the sensitivity they gave it.

I had the exact opposite reaction. They spent a good part of their commentary on the other skaters talking about Ilia and what Ilia would do, how these men didn't have as many high scoring elements as Ilia, Ilia Ilia Ilia, etc. Then when Ilia biffed it, suddenly they were all, oh, there has been so much pressure on this young man, such high expectations, etc.

They and the entire NBC team, plus USFS, need to take a good long look in the mirror. They created a lot of that pressure themselves - and honestly I wasn't surprised at all when they had no idea what to say when Ilia didn't get the coronation they were counting on. The team event should have been a clue that maybe things weren't going to go the way they had planned.

They should have been prepared for the possibility that Ilia didn't win. And they weren't.

 

[PRlady]

To be fair, I wasn’t prepared for Ilia not winning either. And while that doesn’t matter to Ilia, the cumulative expectation from millions of fans would have been daunting.

The ice dance result was sad but not shocking, C/B knew what they were up against. Almost no pairs result would be shocking, they’re all so error-prone. Women, I guess if no Japanese or Americans medal, that would be shocking but there are always other possibilities including Loena, Shin and god forbid Adelya.

I’m rushing to get out of town, bet Ilia wants to do the same.

 

[SlavicaK]

I hope Ilia stays offline and just goes and enjoys the rest of the Olympics (or goes home, whatever he needs). All these comparisons to Biles but he won’t deal with the racism/sexism she dealt with, thankfully. I think Nathan is the best comparison and if he wants to talk with someone that is his person.

No, he won't have to deal with sexism, but he has been dealing with extremely nasty shouts of "he's just a Russian who's found a way to skirt the ban by being born in the US". Imagine what that dimension does to him and other athletes like him.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Yuma (age 18), Yuzuru (age 19), and Shoma (age 20) would beg to differ.

Well everyone handles Olympic pressure different. And Yuma, and Yuzuru at least got to go to their first Olympics as teenagers. Ilia was denied that when he was 17. Now he'll be 25 at his next Olympics if he doesn't retire and stays healthy and competitive in his mid-twenties. Yuma especially wasn't expected to win in 2022 and he didn't, he won silver. He didn't have that pressure, Yuzuru and Nathan did, with Nathan prevailing and Shoma winning the bronze.

The next four years if Ilia hopefully doesn't retire I'll be praying to the skate gods that he stays healthy, happy, and becomes even better than ever. And that he wins an individual Olympic gold. And I hope that he isn't pressured to compete in four programs like he was here. Of course, I personally hoped that he would but if he didn't want to, then he shouldn't have been talked into it.

BTW, did Ilia do his Bonaly back flip in his FS? I was in shock as I was watching the nightmare unfold. I don't remember if he did. And I can't bare to watch that FS again. Just like I can't bare to watch Kurt Brownings Olympic heartaches, nor Sasha Cohen's Olympic FS'S, or Michelle Kwan's "Fields of Gold" Olympic exhibition in 2002.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

No, he won't have to deal with sexism, but he has been dealing with extremely nasty shouts of "he's just a Russian who's found a way to skirt the ban by being born in the US". Imagine what that dimension does to him and other athletes like him.

I've been seeing even worse from disgusting trolls, gleeful about Ilia's Olympic heartache. A pox on all of them.

 

[Miezekatze]

BTW, did Ilia do his Bonaly back flip in his FS?

Yes, he did.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Yes, he did.

Thank you. At least he was able to become the second skater (and the first man) in Olympic history to perform it on Olympic ice in the FS. He was the first to perform a back flip in the SP, and the Bonaly flip in the Team FS. And Adam was the first to perform a back flip in the individual Men's FS on two feet since Terry Kubicka in 1976.

Said with a sad and wistful smile and a heart broken over and over again, not just by Ilia, but by all of the boys of Winter who didn't quite reach their Olympic dream on Olympic ice yesterday.

 

[SlavicaK]

Thank you. At least he was able to become the second skater (and the first man) in Olympic history to perform it on Olympic ice in the FS. He was the first to perform a back flip in the SP, and the Bonaly flip in the Team FS. And Adam was the first to perform a back flip in the individual Men's FS on two feet since Terry Kubicka in 1976.

Said with a sad and wistful smile and a heart broken over and over again, not just by Ilia, but by all of the boys of Winter who didn't quite reach their Olympic dream on Olympic ice yesterday.

That said, I was very nervous for both Adam and Ilia's flips, considering all the mistakes that both of them made before and after these. The risk is just too great.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I am currently re-watching the competition and I am starting to believe the chewed up ice theory. You can clearly see it in Fa's program onwards. However, Grassley might have been experiencing it.

Yuma survived because he was less dependent on jumps.

I've seen a report posted on X from some German news media that was speculating about that but afaik neither Ilia nor any of the other skaters in the Final group has mentioned it or complained about it.

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

I would pay to hear the update phone call yesterday between Malinina and Skornyakov

 

[millyskate]

Well what an event, not in a great way. I couldn't watch last night and I'm relieved I didn't as I would have been too depressed!

All my favourites - Khrylo, Aumoz, Adam and Yuma - had bad nights. I think the judges really wanted Yuma to win the event, based on scoring in both portions. He just couldn't seize the opportunity.

 

[allezfred]

Someone wants a word with the manager!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022434593740329425

Skating fan matrix is well and truly alive as well too.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022435125150257396

 

[skateblessing]

I would pay to hear the update phone call yesterday between Malinina and Skornyakov

I was thinking about his mother yesterday. I bet she just wanted to go on the first plane to give him a hug. All though I know he prefers to have his father there, because apparently he gets nervous with her around/she gets very nervous when he competes, I was thinking that this might have been one of the moments he had preferred to have his mother there.

 

[Private Citizen]

Was the rumour ever confirmed that Team Malinin flew in Raf last minute for emergency coaching? It was weird that Raf was not with Malinin at the final after being there previously. (I think, I’ve only watched in person and not on tv.)

I wonder if Malinin, at 21, needs a bit of space from his parents. Maybe it all being a family affair added to the pressure. But that’s pure speculation on my part.

 

[SlavicaK]

I was thinking about his mother yesterday. I bet she just wanted to go on the first plane to give him a hug. All though I know he prefers to have his father there, because apparently he gets nervous with her around/she gets very nervous when he competes, I was thinking that this might have been one of the moments he had preferred to have his mother there.

Yes, and I thought of his little sister.

No, I would not want to hear the phone call between his parents. Having your child experience hardship, or implode when faced with a chellenge as a mere mortal, is difficult enough as a parent. I've shared many a pained look and hushed conversation with my husband in the privacy of our home. Having all this happen in front of the whole world, after so much hype... I can't imagine how it is for his parents (purely as parents).

I wish Ilia whatever he needs now as a human being - more or less time with his family, a break from skating or doubling down. Definitely far less toxic and intrusive media!

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

I've gone through a lot of this. In all the shrieking about Illia we've forgotten the other two. Andrew had the best competition of his career. He delivered almost all and was engaged through both programs.

Max missed both 4S and was scratchy in much of the FS. But both skaters showed their international potential. No need for a pinch hitter any more. Congrats.

 

[skatingguy]

Was the rumour ever confirmed that Team Malinin flew in Raf last minute for emergency coaching? It was weird that Raf was not with Malinin at the final after being there previously. (I think, I’ve only watched in person and not on tv.)

Arutyunyan was at the boards when Malinin came off the ice after the free skate - Ilia talked to his father first, and then gave Rafael a hug.

 

[Augusztus]

A French mate of mine after the SP: "See, Adam was wise not to go to Euros."

And after the LP: "... Adam should have gone to Euros."


Such is sport!

 

[allezfred]

Am still obsessed with this!

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[CantALoop]

Or Petrosian.

Ah, I was thinking lesser heralded teammate of Team Event star. A Gutmann OGM with a perfect skate would sit better with me than Sotnikova did, unless she were to beat a clean Kaori.

I was gonna say, what’s the next upset or controversy to come? SharkNaki wins? Chan and Howe get a bronze? Gubanova wins it all?

Omg guys haven't we learned from @Karen-W's premonition? The universe is listening to our wild speculation and thinking, "Hey, y'know what would be funny?"

Really tempted to buy an Etsy witch favor or two so things don't go too sideways next week there's only so much wackiness I can handle

 

[MsZem]

Omg guys haven't we learned from @Karen-W's premonition? The universe is listening to our wild speculation and thinking, "Hey, y'know what would be funny?"

This is from the team event thread. I was just a bit early is all...

Guys are bringing their A game, but you know somebody's gonna f*** up, so who will it be?

I know everyone is thinking "Aymoz", but imagine if it ends up being Ilia.

I'm sorry Ilia, I didn't mean it!!!

 

[Wyliefan]

BTW, did Ilia do his Bonaly back flip in his FS?

He did do a backflip, but I believe he landed it on two feet this time, not one.

I've seen a report posted on X from some German news media that was speculating about that but afaik neither Ilia nor any of the other skaters in the Final group has mentioned it or complained about it.

Ilia did mention it. He said something like the ice wasn't all he would have wanted, but he couldn't complain because it was the same for all the skaters, not just him.

 

[Buzz]

Crushed for Ilia but over the moon for Mikhail! Side note… Ilia reminded me of Urmanov in his heyday. LOL

 

[genevieve]

I got home and watched the Venue Feed replay ... I didn't realize until a few skaters in that the Venue Feed tile is only the last two groups.

Same! I was miffed at first, but it was also late.

I stayed off the internet entirely once the comp started because I didn't want to be spoiled - except I picked up my phone an hour before watching and saw a news alert that said "Ilia Malinin...". I quickly turned it over, but assumed that the message was that he won gold, because what else would be so newsworthy? Annoyed to be spoiled, but it's not like I didn't know how it was going to end

My Men's FS journey -

• 1st time seeing Gumennik. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. Rude that Marsak had to skate right after him.
• Gogolev is really having a great season.
• I wanted Sato to have the most amazing redemptive skate. He seems so sensitive - always on the cusp of tears, but maybe he just has Resting Stress Face.
• Torgashev did so well! And his presentation didn't completely stop at his face.

• GUTTED for Cha. That fall was so epic. The rest of his program was sublime. If I could retrocon one skate, it would be to have him land that jump.
• I can't help it, I lurve Shaidorov. I loved this skate. He even managed to not come to a complete stop in his final spin! Seeing his face as he crept up in the standings was priceless.
• OMG poor Adam. I don't enjoy his skating the way I used to, but was thrilled at how his SP went. That was just cruel.
• I have wanted Yuma to won these Olys since the last Olympic season. This was so hard to watch. Those jumps were so sketch and the magic of his usually-smooth performance just disappeared. I still think he's the best overall skater, but I don't know how he ended up on the podium after that (don't come for me, I know it's SP scores. STILL)

It's no secret that I don't love Malinin's skating, but right before he skated, I said "OK, I am ready for Ilia to blow the competition away". I wanted him to have that epic quad god skate.

Popped the 4A - okay, he doesn't need it
Popped the 4R - oof, don't lose your concentration - but he's probably going to land 12 more quads
Fell on combo - I have never seen Ilia skate so poorly GF says "are you sure that message said he won?"
Fell on a double - my hands were over my mouth for the rest of the program as it dawned on me that Shaidorov was going to be Olympic champion

The anguish on his face at the end of the program was heart-breaking.

Seeing Shaidorov realizing what he accomplished was a total joy.
Seeing Sato realize that he made the podium was gratifying. He has grown on me this season.
Congrats to Yuma, but in my heart of hearts I wish that the podium had ended up Shaidorov-Sato-Cha. But he was super gracious to Sato and they were adorable in the medal ceremony

I can believe that the ice was not top-quality - I noticed several of the men I watched having tiny slips in the middle of doing nothing. But that was the same ice for the last 2 groups.

All the bitching about 2022 is utterly ridiculous. I don't blame Ilia for having a hot mic moment after the biggest disappointment of his career, but fans
ing about it is just silly. More appropriate would be to complain about using Ilia for both segments of the Team Event. Although I would also say that gave him a taste of Olympic ice, so perhaps he would have been more prepared? Or not doing the FS (and probably USA getting TE silver) might have put a different fire under him. Who can know? But bitching about a decision 4 years ago just seems like yet another opportunity to dog on Brown, who isn't even here and had his own never-seen-that meltdown last month.

Thank you for listening to my TED Talk. I missed the PBP thread while watching!

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

He did do a backflip, but I believe he landed it on two feet this time, not one.



Ilia did mention it. He said something like the ice wasn't all he would have wanted, but he couldn't complain because it was the same for all the skaters, not just him.

Still, I wonder. So many career-bad skates in the last group. Ice chewed up from so many quads?

 

[MsZem]

The Russian troll farms have been busy! Apparently a great injustice happened last night when Petr Gumennik did not win silver.

(FWIW, I don't think he's had any part in this)