Ilia Malinin Reveals Superstar Support from Tom Brady, Stephen Curry, and Simone Biles After Winter Olympics Heartbreak

Entering the men’s figure skating final as a favorite for gold in the 2026 Winter Olympics, Ilia Malinin, who is widely known as the ‘Quad God,’ endured one of the most shocking nights of the Games. Yet in the emotional aftermath, he said what stood out most wasn’t the disappointment, but the wave of support that followed from personalities like Tom Brady, Simone Biles, Steph Curry, and more.

On February 14, Malinin arrived as one of the most anticipated athletes in figure skating. The expectations were sky-high after his recent world titles and dominant performances leading to the Olympics. However, the free skate unfolded differently. Two costly falls disrupted his routine, dropping him out of medal contention.

The 21-year-old made an attempt at performing his special quadruple axel, which eventually turned into a single axel. The under rotations and missed combinations lowered his position to 15th in the free-skate area, dropping him to eighth overall. He earned 156.33 in the free skate and a total score of 264.49 in the event.

Days after the unfortunate incident, he spoke to NBC Sports, revealing that messages poured in from some of the biggest names in global sports and entertainment, helping him process the devastating moment. Addressing the support, he said that the encouragement from fellow elite athletes made a significant difference.

“I got so much love, so much support, and everyone was there for me. You know, had so many different people reach out to me, Tom Brady, Steph Curry, Simone Biles, Snoop. I’m honestly just honored for that, and I feel like it just made my day, honestly,” said Ilia Malinin.

Malnin’s interview with NBC

Even though he fell short of earning a podium finish in the free skate segment, he did win a gold medal in the team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Ilia Malinin made his feelings known about his performance in the free skate final at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Following the unexpected turn that took place with him in the free skate final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Ilia Malinin spoke to NBC4 Washington. When asked about how he was feeling about the skate, he said that it was ‘a lot to take’ for him.

Opening up about his preparations, the American star said that he was confident and ready to perform; however, he did not get the time to process how everything unfolded on the stage. Highlighting the Olympic presure, he said: (1:15 onwards)