Ilia Malinin Opens Up About Conversation with Amber Glenn Following Olympic Short Program
American figure skater Ilia Malinin has revealed the supportive words he shared with fellow Team USA teammate Amber Glenn after her emotional performance in the women's individual figure skating competition at this year's Winter Olympics. Both athletes experienced personal setbacks during their individual events but ultimately celebrated victory together as part of the gold medal-winning team.
Emotional Moments on Olympic Ice
Amber Glenn took to the ice on Tuesday alongside her "Blade Angels" teammates Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito for the women's short program. The 26-year-old skater delivered a mostly flawless routine before popping out of her final jump prematurely. Glenn left the ice in tears, placing 13th heading into Thursday's free skate portion of the competition.
Malinin faced similar disappointment during his own free skate performance. The skater had planned to make history by becoming the first man to land seven quadruple jumps in a single Olympic event, including the notoriously difficult quad axel. While he successfully executed the quad flip, he stumbled on the axel attempt, managing only a single rotation instead of the planned four. This performance left him off the podium entirely, finishing in eighth place.
Words of Understanding and Support
In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Malinin explained what he told Glenn following her emotional short program. As one of the few people who could truly understand what she was experiencing, he offered words of comfort and perspective.
"I've told her that, you know, this is something that we all go through," Malinin revealed. "It's not always a pleasant feeling, but it's something that we need to embrace and we have to move on from no matter what, because no matter what happens, we always have to get up and go do it again."
The figure skater continued, explaining that he tried to provide Glenn with the same support system that he himself had received after his disappointing performance the previous week.
"So many different athletes, you know, friends, teammates, even just randoms too. They're all there for me," Malinin said. "And even people outside from the village. Just so much love, so much support, and just such an honor."
Support from Unexpected Quarters
Malinin's experience resonated beyond the figure skating community, drawing empathy from Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. The decorated athlete, who famously experienced the "twisties" during the 2020 Tokyo Games, reached out to Malinin to offer her support.
During her Tuesday appearance on the Today show, Biles spoke about connecting with the figure skater: "I've definitely had a chance to bump into him. I've sent him messages on Instagram as well, obviously, it's all been private because I know what he's going through, and I know most athletes might not be able to relate, and it's really, really hard to watch."
Looking Ahead with Gold in Hand
Despite the individual disappointments, both Malinin and Glenn will be taking home gold medals from the Winter Olympics as part of Team USA's victorious figure skating team. The team event victory provides a silver lining to their individual struggles.
Glenn will return to the ice on Thursday night for the free skate portion of the women's individual competition. Regardless of her final placement in the individual event, she will leave the Olympics with a gold medal from the team competition, a testament to the collective strength of American figure skating.
The experiences of both athletes highlight the emotional rollercoaster of elite competition, where personal disappointment can coexist with team triumph, and where support from fellow athletes can provide crucial perspective during challenging moments.
