U.S. Men 2025-26 Discussion - Quad God and the Mere Mortals

[Vagabond]

People are very quick to assume they know the personality of well-known athletes. Look at the number of Americans on this board who 'hate' FB & C.

You don't have to be American or know their personalties to find their public statements about Nikolaj Soerensen, his accuser, and their own (Fournier-Beaudry and Cizeron's) supposed victimization offensive.

The fact that the accuser is herself American has nothing to do with anything. People all over the world are subjected to sexual assault, including in Canada and France.

 

[becca]

I agree except that I don't think that Jason ever 'hoped' that someone would fall. None of us can know if he ever thought such a thing. As a former athlete I never thought that way. I always wanted everyone to do their

Your right look I don’t think Jason wanted others to fall he actually seems like a sweet guy. I am sure if he could land 6 quads he would and he clearly tried to learn them. Its sad there isnt an event in skating that allowed us to appreciate what he is.

The hopes others fall is more of for his fans because it was only way that was going to happen

 

[Sylvia]

Jason is in Milan :

U.S. Figure Skating on Instagram: "Heartwarming moments brought to you by @jasonbskates!!! 🥰 💌"

3,932 likes, 127 comments - usfigureskating on February 14, 2026: "Heartwarming moments brought to you by @jasonbskates!!! 🥰 💌".

www.instagram.com

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Relatedly, if the ISU goes through with some version of the radical format changes they’re proposing, Ilia will also likely never again have the opportunity to present a 7-quad long program at the Olympics, even if he’s physically still in a good spot in 2030.

Unless he pulls a Bonaly/Siao Him Fa with their illegal flips and goes for 7 quads anyway, penalties be damned!

 

[Barbara Manatee]

The hopes others fall is more of for his fans because it was only way that was going to happen

Jason's fans didn't hope for his competitors to fall either. Time to stop digging.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

It would have introduced Ilia to the environment of Olympic competition. There would have Beene something familiar about it the second time around which can give an athlete somone was a teenager at her first Olympics.

Scott Hamilton: 5th 1980, 1984
Brian Boitano: 5th 1984, 1988
Evan Lysacek: 4th 2006, 2010
Nathan Chen: 5th 2018, 2022

I had been saddened at the fact that Nathan was just a teenager in 2018, then he pulled off his Olympic triumph at 22, just a year older than Ilia, who was 21 at HIS Olympic debut. Then I saw this. I had to Google it but Scott, Brian, and Evan were also in their 20s at their respective Olympic debuts. That gives me some solace. And hope for Elia's chances in his mid 20s.

And oh I do so hope that he stays healthy, strong and stays in, fighting the good fight to 'jump towards Mount Olympus' as Kurt Browning said.

 

[Sylvia]

Jason is in Milan :

U.S. Figure Skating on Instagram: "Heartwarming moments brought to you by @jasonbskates!!! 🥰 💌"

3,932 likes, 127 comments - usfigureskating on February 14, 2026: "Heartwarming moments brought to you by @jasonbskates!!! 🥰 💌".

www.instagram.com

Jason also made an appearance last night at a Pride House Milano event with Adam Rippon - links are posted here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/lgbtq-in-figure-skating.108407/page-5#post-6896266

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

What jacket is this? Was he wearing it when TV coverage caught him walking in, etc.? I didn't know this and now I want to see a picture.

He wore it during his Today Show interview with Craig Melvin! The ego! The arrogance!

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[kwanfan1818]

Its sad there isnt an event in skating that allowed us to appreciate what he is.

You mean like his two Olympics and seven World Championships, including 2025 Worlds, where he was never lower than 9th?

 

[Karen-W]

Per Brennan, Ilia will skate in the Gala and he has decided to compete at Worlds.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2023103714697912339

 

[zebobes]

Let's imagine that Ilia had decided to simplify his program and get the gold. I wonder if he would have gotten a lot of backlash for not living up to the "quadgod" moniker. I wonder if him going through this difficult time might in the long run endear him even more to the figure skating world.

It's all what ifs, and we will never know, but man, the next four years will probably feel like such a long time to Ilia.

 

[mtnskater]

Yaaay Ilia! Get back up on that horse