Why Olympian Ilia Malinin’s Mom Won’t Attend the Winter Olympics 2026

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Ilia Malinin’s icy trip to Milan will be short of one member.  

Figure skater Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” is competing for a spot at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He mentioned that while his father, Roman Skorniakov, will be in the audience, his mother and coach, Tatiana Malinin, won’t be able to join him.

Ilia, 21, said in an interview with Today before his final performance that it would likely just be him and his father attending. He explained that his mother gets very anxious when he competes, and with the added pressure of the Milan competition, she’s chosen to avoid watching live and will likely stay out of sight until after he’s finished skating.

Tatiana and Roman, both former Olympic skaters for Uzbekistan, truly understand the challenges athletes face. But even with all their experience, Ilia mentioned his mom still gets anxious watching his competitions.

This is a particularly memorable moment for Ilia, especially since he wasn’t originally meant to compete in the free skate. He’s happy he had the chance to showcase his abilities.

After the medal ceremony, he told USA TODAY Sports that making this decision was ‘definitely the smartest thing I’ve done.’ He explained he was able to fully experience the ice, the environment, and the energy of the moment, adding that he was incredibly proud of his and everyone else’s performance that night.

Honestly, today feels incredible – truly one of the best days I’ve had in a long time! It’s given me such a positive boost, and I know I’ll be carrying that good energy with me for days to come. It’s all about setting yourself up for success, and right now, I feel amazing and ready for anything!

Keep reading to see more Team USA members that are making history at the 2026 Olympics… 

This is a particularly memorable moment for Ilia, especially since he wasn’t originally meant to compete in the free skate. He’s thrilled he had the chance to showcase his abilities.

After the medal ceremony, he told USA TODAY Sports that making this decision was “definitely the smartest thing I’ve ever done.” He explained he was able to fully experience the ice, the environment, and the energy of the moment, adding that he was incredibly proud of the team’s performance that night.

Ilia shared, “Today is absolutely one of the best days of my life, and it’s put me in a great headspace for what’s ahead.”

Keep reading to see more Team USA members that are making history at the 2026 Olympics… 

Though Mikaela Shiffrin has already won three Olympic medals, she’s hoping to bounce back at her fourth Olympics. She didn’t perform as well as she wanted at the 2022 Beijing Games, and she recently suffered a serious injury in November 2024—a puncture to her abdomen that needed surgery.

As a longtime fan, what really struck me in Mikaela’s recent interview with TIME was how she’s come to terms with the unpredictable nature of competition. She admitted she knows even perfect preparation doesn’t guarantee a medal, but what’s different now is her incredible connection with her team. She feels so supported by her coaches and staff, and that gives her a real confidence that they can face anything together. To me, that’s the most important thing – knowing they’re ready to handle whatever comes their way as a unit. It’s all she can do, and honestly, it’s incredibly inspiring to see.

Mikaela Shiffrin has been supported for years by Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, and they are now engaged to be married.

He keeps telling me to stay positive and that everything will be alright,” she shared with Olympics.com. “Last season was particularly tough, and I often wondered if pushing myself to come back was too much, too soon, or even possible. But he reminded me that I know my own limits, that I’m giving it my all, and that it’s okay if it doesn’t work out.

After struggling with repeated knee injuries, Lindsey Vonn retired from professional skiing in 2019. She had competed in five Winter Olympics, achieving a gold medal in downhill and a bronze in Super-G in 2010, followed by another bronze in downhill in 2018.

After a successful partial knee replacement in 2024 finally relieved the pain she’d lived with since her first knee surgery in 2013, she rediscovered her passion for speed.

While he appreciates other things in life, like board meetings and investing, the 41-year-old skier told NBC News in December that nothing compares to the thrill of downhill skiing. He’s built a good life beyond the sport, and accepts he’ll never recapture that feeling, but he plans to fully enjoy this final burst of adrenaline before retiring.

Vonn’s crash during a World Cup race in Switzerland on January 30th was serious enough to require a helicopter rescue, and it seemed like it might end her attempt to return to competitive skiing.

Despite tearing the ACL in her left knee, the experienced athlete announced on February 8th that she felt well enough to race in the women’s downhill event. She had previously stated she was prepared to take any risk to compete.

At a press conference on February 3rd, she firmly stated she wouldn’t give up. Despite the circumstances, she emphasized her strength and determination, saying, ‘I’m not crying, I’m holding my head high, and I’m going to give it my all.’

Sadly, Vonn had a crash during the race and broke her tibia in a complicated way, needing several operations to fix it.

 

Oh my gosh, Jessie Diggins! She’s, like, the most decorated cross-country skier America has ever seen, and this is it – her last Olympics! I can’t believe it! I’ve been following her career forever, and it’s so bittersweet watching her compete one last time. I’m totally rooting for her to make it amazing!

And the Afton, Minn., native is headed to Italy with a purpose.

In a recent Instagram post on January 31st, the 34-year-old shared that they have the freedom to choose who they compete for and live according to their beliefs. They dedicated their efforts to those who care for others, protect their communities, and approach people with kindness, stating that these individuals inspire them and make them proud to represent their country. They hope to bring happiness to these supporters in the coming weeks.

After she retires, she shared with NPR’s All Things Considered that she’s looking forward to spending time gardening and, most importantly, being home with her husband.

At just 17, Stolz first competed in the Olympics in Beijing. Though he didn’t medal four years ago, he’s now a top contender to win gold in the 500, 1000, and 1500-meter speed skating events, plus the mass start race (a challenging 16-lap, 6,400-meter competition), at the upcoming Milan Cortina Games.

The 21-year-old athlete believes he has a strong chance of winning gold if he performs his best, telling the Associated Press in January that he’s well-prepared. When asked about the pressure to succeed, he said he feels confident as long as things go smoothly, adding that he’s experienced many high-stakes races and isn’t overly concerned about the expectations.

On February 11th, Stolz took the gold medal in the men’s 100m race, breaking the Olympic record with a time of 1:06.28.

Four years after making history at the Beijing Winter Olympics – becoming the first Black American woman to medal in speed skating and the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal – 500-meter champion Erin Jackson will carry her nation’s flag into the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Games on February 6th. She will share the honor with bobsledder Frank Del Duca.

It’s a huge honor to represent the United States internationally,” said the 33-year-old from Ocala, Florida. “This isn’t just about me; it’s about my family, my team, my hometown, and all Americans who believe in what sports can achieve.”

Although she’s not retiring immediately, Jackson plans to launch an organization dedicated to supporting young Black athletes who aspire to become speed skaters.

It’s incredibly important to see people like yourself succeeding, and that hasn’t always been the case in winter sports, especially speed skating. I’m proud to be a role model and inspire others to get involved in the sport, and I’m committed to helping make that happen.

Despite a shoulder injury – a small tear in her labrum suffered during training in Switzerland back in January – Kim is determined to compete in her fourth Olympics. She’s aiming to add another gold medal to her already impressive collection in the women’s halfpipe event.

The 25-year-old athlete from Torrance, California, expressed disappointment in a video posted on January 13th that she won’t be able to snowboard again until just before the Olympics, which will make preparation difficult. She acknowledged she hasn’t had as much practice as she’d hoped, but remains optimistic.

She anticipates a relaxed preparation period leading up to the 2026 Games. In a January 22nd interview with NBC Olympics, she explained she was currently at home and planned to travel to Europe early the following week for some training before heading to Milan for the event.

And once she was there, she’d be fired up and ready to go—just like everyone else.

It’s hard to put into words what it’s like,” said Kim, who has been snowboarding since she was a child, “but it feels like everyone reaches their full potential out there.”

Oh my gosh, Gerard is just… amazing! He was only SEVENTEEN when he grabbed gold in slopestyle at the Pyeongchang Olympics back in 2018! And it’s not just the Olympics – he’s totally dominated the X Games, winning it twice already! I’m seriously hoping he can bring that same incredible energy and win another medal at his third Olympics. I’m SO excited to watch him!

The 25-year-old, originally from Ohio and now living in Colorado, told People magazine in January that she still feels young and in excellent health. She also expressed how rewarding it is to be a veteran on Team USA, having joined at age 13, and to be able to mentor the newer, younger athletes.

Gerard explained how he handles the pressure of the Olympics: he focuses on treating it like any other competition. While he acknowledges the larger scale and increased attention, he tries to block out the distractions and concentrate on his snowboarding. He believes that approaching the Olympics as he always has – focusing on his own performance – is the key to success.

The 31-year-old snowboarder is competing in his third Olympic Games, hoping to add a gold medal to his collection after winning silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.

Skier Ferreira believes this is his year to win gold. He told the Daily Express that he’s entering the competition healthy for the first time, unlike his previous two attempts where he was injured – he broke his collarbone weeks before one games and sprained his ankle before another. He feels more prepared now, saying he’s older, more focused, and completely dedicated to achieving his goal.

Besides his sister Lourdes and his athletic parents – Marcelo, a former soccer player from Argentina, and Colleen, a competitive relay racer – he also has a rescue dog named Brandy by his side.

What I love most about my dog, Brandy, is her unconditional love. She doesn’t care about accomplishments or rewards; she just greets me with a wagging tail and is always there for me, through thick and thin. I truly rely on her companionship,” said Ferreira, who partners with Nulo pet food.

Ferreira won a silver medal at the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle event on Feb. 10.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always inspired by incredible athletes, and Mark McMorris is definitely one of them! He’s heading to his third Olympics as the current gold medalist in slopestyle. It’s amazing to see how far he’s come – just four years ago, he finished 16th in the same event at the 2018 Games, and now he’s a champion! His dedication is truly something to admire.

Besides potentially winning another slopestyle gold—a medal he famously keeps in his sock drawer—the laid-back 27-year-old is also hoping to do better than his eighth-place finish in Big Air at the 2022 competition. He said winning gold once was incredible, and repeating that would be amazing.

In an interview with POWDER magazine in October 2025, Hall expressed his enthusiasm for the return of the Olympics to Europe, particularly the prospect of skiing on quality snow amidst impressive mountains – something the last two Olympics lacked. He also shared a personal connection to the upcoming games, noting that his mother is from Bologna, Italy, and many of his family members who still live there plan to attend, which he anticipates will be a special experience.

The 29-year-old freestyle skier is competing in her third Olympic Games and hopes to build on the silver medal she won in Beijing.

As someone who’s been in the lifestyle and wellness space for years, I often get asked about everything from perfecting a training regimen to managing the stress that comes with competing on a global stage. I’ve learned a lot about navigating those challenges and I’m always happy to share what I know.

Patti Sherman-Kauf is a decorated athlete: she won two championships on the World Pro Moguls Tour, even while pregnant with her daughter, and her husband, Scott Kauf, won five titles. After retiring from mogul skiing, Patti excelled in skicross, earning three bronze medals at the X Games.

Jaelin wasn’t like most babies when she was born; she preferred being bounced instead of rocked, according to her mother, Patti, in an interview with NBC Olympics.

Jaelin confessed to Teton Gravity Research in November 2025 that she didn’t initially love mogul skiing. She preferred a day with fresh powder. However, watching her parents build careers as professional skiers showed her it was a viable path for herself – something many people don’t get to see or receive support for. She always felt confident she could pursue it.

Team Jaelin also includes her boyfriend, Bradley Wilson, a two-time Olympic skier who is now retired. Bradley’s brother, Bryon Wilson – a bronze medalist and Kauf’s coach – is also part of the team.

Kauf won a silver medal in women’s freestyle skiing moguls on Feb. 11.

Humphries’ journey has had more twists than a bobsled run.

Originally from Calgary, this 40-year-old athlete represented Team Canada in two-woman bobsled and achieved Olympic success with gold medals in 2010 and 2014, followed by a bronze in 2018.

In 2019, she surprised everyone in the sports world by announcing her departure from the Canadian national team after 16 years. She explained that she was concerned for her safety due to a negative and harmful atmosphere within the team leading up to the 2018 Olympics.

Humphries became part of the U.S. team in 2019, but she told the Associated Press then that she considered herself Canadian and didn’t intend to choose between the two nationalities.

She clarified that her affection for Canada hasn’t changed, but she’s capable of loving someone and something new just as deeply. Having lived in the U.S. for four years, she found love with an American, and they got married. Now, life has presented them with new paths, and they’re making choices about their future together.

Elana Humphries became a U.S. citizen in 2021 and then went on to win a gold medal in the first-ever monobob event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

This will be her fifth Olympic Games, and the first since becoming a mother. She and her husband, Travis Armbruster, welcomed their son, Aulden, in June 2024.

For years, people have said that having a baby means an athlete’s career is over – that your body changes too much, both physically and mentally, and you can’t return to top performance. As Humphries told The Athletic, that used to be the accepted truth. But now, athletes are showing that you can have a child and still continue competing at a high level – you don’t have to choose between the two.

For five-time Olympian, bobsledding is now a personal escape. Since becoming a mother with her husband, Nic Taylor, to son Nico in 2020 and then Noah in 2022, she finds time for herself through the sport. Nico has Down syndrome, and both boys are deaf – a result of a genetic mutation that both parents unknowingly carried until Nico’s birth.

Even though her home life was incredibly busy, Meyers Taylor really wanted her children to witness her professional life.

The 41-year-old told The Athletic that the next generation will face difficulties he can’t fully imagine. He hopes they learn that even when things get tough, it’s important to keep chasing your goals. He wants them to witness both his successes – seeing him win medals – and his struggles, watching him overcome setbacks and keep fighting.

Although Kaillie Meyers Taylor has earned five Olympic medals across four Games – including four in two-woman bobsled and a silver in monobob at the 2022 Olympics – she’s still aiming to win her first gold medal.

Skeleton racing is undeniably cool – it involves speeding headfirst down an icy, winding track on a small sled, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph.

Ro, who became the first American to win a medal in skeleton at the IBSF World Championships in 12 years (in 2025), initially didn’t believe she’d actually won.

She remembers her first time trying skeleton in 2016 vividly. After being told she was too small for bobsled, she went to the top of the track with a coach. “It was so fast, everything blurred, and I couldn’t think,” she told The Athletic. “When I reached the bottom, I was finished – I knew I wasn’t doing that again!”

But after listening to enough people rave about how cool it was, she tried it again.

Ten years after starting her journey, the athlete from Virginia is now competing in her first Olympics. She’ll be participating in both individual events and the brand-new mixed team event, which is being introduced at the 2026 Games.

Outside of training and competition, Ro works as a tour guide at the Lake Placid Olympic Center. She’s one of many athletes who takes on a second job to make ends meet. Ro is the second oldest of a large family – eleven siblings, including a twin sister born just fourteen minutes later.

She described being fully immersed in her training environment, saying it’s a constant part of her life. The facility offers tours led by athletes, which tourists enjoy because they get a personal, insider’s view. However, she added that the income from tours won’t be enough to fully fund her athletic pursuits.

Illya Malinin comes from a family of figure skating stars – both his parents were Uzbekistani champions. He started skating at age 6, but growing up in Virginia, he actually preferred playing soccer outdoors to practicing in the chilly rink.

At age 17, he made history as the first – and so far, only – skater to land a complete quadruple axel during an international competition, achieving this at the 2022 CS U.S. International Classic.

Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” has successfully landed four quadruple jumps in a single program several times. With Nathan Chen, previously known as the “Quad King,” not competing in the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, Malinin is currently considered the top U.S. male skater with a strong chance of winning another individual gold medal.

Okay, so it still stings that he didn’t make Team USA four years ago, but honestly? He’s so focused now. He’s completely dedicated to getting in the best shape of his life and making a real impact. He’s determined to prove everyone wrong, and I, for one, can’t wait to see him shine!

Illya Malinin explained on the USA Today‘s Milan Magic podcast that he focuses on his performance, not the medals, when he competes. He prioritizes doing his job as a skater to the best of his ability, and prepares thoroughly to deliver a strong skate. He believes that if he skates cleanly, the medals will naturally follow.

He and his U.S. figure skating teammates clinched the gold medal in the teams event on Feb. 8.

After competing in the Beijing Olympics and World Championships – where she earned a bronze medal – Liu retired from competitive skating in 2022.

Liu explained to NBC News that she began her intensive training at age five and continued until she was sixteen. Having been homeschooled her entire life, she realized she missed social interaction. She shared that she spent many years training in isolation, without family or friends nearby, and ultimately decided to retire at seventeen because she longed for human connection.

She explained that she had very little control over her training and appearance, saying people chose her programs and outfits without her input. She felt like she was being treated like a doll, forced to participate in the Olympics, not for herself, but to fulfill a sense of obligation to her younger self.

After starting her studies at UCLA in the fall of 2023 and enjoying a typical college experience, she rediscovered her competitive spirit during a ski trip in January. By March 2024, she was officially competing again. The 20-year-old athlete from Clovis, California, then went on to win a gold medal at the 2025 World Championships and is now aiming to secure the first individual medal for the U.S. women’s team in 20 years—and she’s hoping for another gold at the 2026 Games.

When she takes the ice now, “it’s fully for myself,” Liu explained. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”

Liu and her U.S. figure skating teammates clinched the gold medal in the teams event on Feb. 8.

These partners are competing in their fourth Olympic Games, and it’s their first time competing as a married couple, having wed in June 2024.

In December, Chock told TopMob News that getting married strengthened their bond and dedication to both each other and their skating. They already had a strong connection through skating, but marriage has made them true partners, supporting each other in everything they do, both on and off the ice.

Though they helped the U.S. figure skating team win gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the three-time world champion pair haven’t yet earned an Olympic medal of their own.

We’ve been working really hard and dedicating a lot of time and effort,” Bates shared with TopMob, “but we truly appreciate every day and the chance we’ve been given.

While both the 36-year-old skater and his 33-year-old partner haven’t announced their retirement, they recognize they are nearing the end of their competitive careers.

At the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Bates told NBC Olympics that they were trying to stay focused and not get overwhelmed by the emotion of the event and their 15-year partnership. They said the best reward would be a strong performance, but they also wanted to savor the moment, knowing it might be their last competition. They went on to win gold at the event.

On February 8th, the pair took home the gold medal in the team figure skating event and earned a silver medal in ice dancing.

As a long-time observer of peak performance, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! A true icon of U.S. women’s hockey, and a gold medalist from 2018, has announced that the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics will be her last. This will be her fifth Olympic Games, making her the most decorated American hockey player – male or female – in history. It’s a beautiful ending to an incredible career, and I, along with so many fans, will be cheering her on!

Although she’d love to win another gold medal, Knight emphasized to Today.com that many of her teammates are new to the Olympics. She’s focused on making sure everyone feels comfortable and can perform at their best. She believes that if they can all reach their full potential, the team will be incredibly strong and have a great chance of success.

A University of Wisconsin graduate, she currently plays hockey for the Seattle Torrent in Washington. However, she and her partner, Brittany Bowe – a veteran speed skater competing in her fourth and final Olympics shortly before turning 38 on February 24th – have made Salt Lake City their home, where they recently purchased a house.

As elite athletes, you develop a strong sense of what someone else needs – whether it’s encouragement or time to themselves,” Knight explained to NBC Olympics in June 2025. “Because we’ve both been performing at a high level for so long, we’re able to understand each other well.

I’ve been following this mixed doubles curling team since they teamed up right after the 2022 Olympics, and I’m so excited to see them compete in their first Games together! They already proved they have what it takes, finishing fifth at the 2025 World Championship and even winning the world championship in 2023. What I really admire is how well they work together – they say it’s not just their skill, but also their personalities that make them such a strong team. It’s clear all their hard work is paying off!

Ahead of the Milan Cortina Games, 30-year-old Dropkin explained to reporters that she and her teammate have a strong connection. “We work really well together because we stay relaxed and focused on the present,” she said. “We also just have great chemistry. Someone recently described us as ‘the calm and the fire’ – Cory is calm and confident on the ice, while I bring a lot of energy and passion. That combination really works for us.”

Oh my gosh, he and his wife, Thiesse—they got married to Sam Thiesse in June 2022, can you believe it?—they live in Duluth, Minnesota! It’s so amazing that they both work regular jobs just to be able to chase their curling dreams. It’s so inspiring, honestly!

Dropkin works in real estate, and Thiesse is a lab technician who tests wastewater for mercury. Thiesse shared with Duluth’s ABC 10 that she’s thankful to have a stable job while pursuing her passion for curling, saying it’s a lifelong dream come true.

The pair won a silver medal in the mixed doubles event on Feb. 10.

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2026-02-13 22:20