Robert Samuels' insightful articles & more from the Olympics

[Sylvia]

My absolute favorite journalist to follow on social media (https://x.com/newsbysamuels) and to read at the 2026 Milan Olympics is Robert Samuels - he has been sharing fun Instagram stories and posts too: https://www.instagram.com/newsbysamuels/
Consider this my fan/cheer thread for him.

He currently is a "national enterprise reporter" at the Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/robert-samuels/

Below are gift links to his articles that I have compiled so far:

February 7, 2026 (gift links are supposed to work for 14 days):

Robert Samuels is that rarity, a serious journalist who adores figure skating and writes about it when he can. This is lovely about Kaori [Feb. 6] - "The most popular skater at the Olympics might not be Ilia Malinin": https://wapo.st/4rGFoND

Feb. 13, 2026 (Men's FS): Mikhail Shaidorov was everything Ilia Malinin wasn’t for one night

Feb. 13 (Christopher Tin & Yuma's FS): The Washington National Opera will have a starring role at the Olympics (will edit in gift link)

Feb. 11: (Free Dance) - "In knife-edge ice dance final, French flow overcomes American power" - thanks @skipaway!

WaPo Article on Free Dance

Feb. 11 (Free Dance): The hottest trend in Olympic ice dance: Pretending to die

Feb. 10 (Men's SP): Ilia Malinin’s short program dazzled. Buckle up for the Quadgod’s free skate.

Feb. 10: The history of figure skating’s most controversial trick — the backflip

Feb. 9 (Rhythm Dance): In a tight Olympic ice dance, the most subtle slip comes with a steep cost (will edit in gift link)

Feb. 9: Georgia is on a quest for recognition at the Olympics. Glory can wait. (will edit in gift link)

Feb. 9: Ice dance will incorporate queer culture unlike in any other Olympics (will edit in gift link)

"What went wrong for Ilia Malinin and why everyone needs to chill out" (Feb. 8) - posted originally in the Kiss & Cry section:

I thought Robert Samuels' analysis, published today [Feb. 8], was spot on (this is a gifted link from his X account).
"The press corps of more than two dozen seemed more freaked out about what transpired than Malinin himself. “It’s the Olympics,” he insisted, suggesting that reporters chill out. It will be interesting to see just how much chill Malinin shows at the team‑event final on Sunday."
Samuels also posted an explanation while walking in Milan:

Robert Samuels on Instagram: "What happened with Ilia Malinin last night? I tell you why you shouldn’t be too alarmed. #figureskating #olympics #milanocortina2026 #iliamalinin #yumakagiyama"

17 likes, 3 comments - newsbysamuels on February 8, 2026: "What happened with Ilia Malinin last night? I tell you why you shouldn’t be too alarmed. #figureskating #olympics #milanocortina2026 #iliamalinin #yumakagiyama".

www.instagram.com

Jan. 31 (this gift link may expire today): How Maxim Naumov learned to embrace his grief to earn a spot at the Olympics

Today (such a pity we won't get an article on Mr. Tadao Kusaka!): https://x.com/newsbysamuels/status/2022587954607067354

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022587954607067354

 

[Wyliefan]

Thanks very much for these, @Sylvia. Samuels does such a great job.