Did Ilia Malinin Win the Gold in the Men’s Free Skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Going into the 2026 Winter Olympics, many eyes were paying close attention to 21-year-old American men’s skater, Ilia Malinin. Affectionately known as “Quad God” (a nickname he actually came up with for himself), many skating experts believed the gold medal in the Men’s Free Skate was Malinin’s to lose, and for good reason. He’s the first person in a competition to land a quadruple axel (that’s 4 and ½ rotations in the air, arguably the most difficult tricks in skating). Not to mention, the Virginia...