Simone Biles Offers Mental‑Health Guidance to Ilia Malinin After Free‑Skate Collapse
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Malinin’s Free‑Skate Collapse Sends Him to Eighth Place The 21‑year‑old Ilia Malinin entered the men’s free skate as the clear favourite but stumbled on two jumps, missing his signature quadruple axel and falling from first after the short program to finish eighth overall [1]. His performance marked a dramatic reversal from the expectations set by his short‑program lead. The mishap sparked immediate discussion of the pressures facing elite skaters on the world stage.
Biles Steps In With Personal Mental‑Health Support Multiple Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles, who was in the arena, saw Malinin’s distress and later contacted him to discuss his wellbeing [1]. She met him in Milan on Tuesday, entered “protection mode,” and sent concise bullet‑point notes aimed at helping him process the experience [1]. Biles drew on her own experience with the “twisties” at Tokyo 2021 and her comeback to win three golds and a silver at Paris 2024 [1].
Malinin Publicly Describes “Invisible Battles” After the collapse, Malinin posted on Instagram that “on the world’s biggest stage… invisible battles… vile online hatred attacks the mind,” highlighting the mental strain and online abuse he endures [1]. The message underscored the broader issue of athlete mental health in high‑pressure environments. His statement resonated with fans and mental‑health advocates alike.
Winter Games Context and Coverage The 2026 Winter Olympics run from 6 February to 22 February in Milan‑Cortina, featuring figure skating among other events, with live coverage on BBC platforms [1]. The Games provide a backdrop for heightened scrutiny of athletes’ performances and wellbeing. Media outlets continue to monitor how support systems evolve during the competition.
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Timeline
2021 – Simone Biles experiences the “twisties” mental block at the Tokyo Games, withdraws to protect her health, and later rebounds to win three gold medals and a silver at Paris 2024, illustrating her recovery from a major psychological crisis. [1]
Feb 2022 – Fifteen‑year‑old Kamila Valieva tests positive for the banned drug trimetazidine at the Beijing Winter Olympics, is disqualified from the team event, and the United States is upgraded to gold, sparking a high‑profile doping dispute. [2]
2024 – Biles returns to Olympic competition in Paris, capturing three golds and a silver in gymnastics, cementing her comeback after the twisties episode. [1]
2025 – The International Skating Union raises the Olympic figure‑skating age minimum to 17, a rule change enacted in response to the Valieva controversy to better protect young athletes. [2]
Dec 2025 – Kamila Valieva’s doping ban expires after surviving multiple appeals, including a case before the Swiss Supreme Court, allowing her to compete again. [2]
Jan 31, 2026 – Valieva returns to competition at the Russian jumping championships in Moscow, lands a quadruple toe‑loop in the quarterfinals and qualifies for the semifinals, but remains ineligible for the Milan‑Cortina Games under the new age rule. [2]
Feb 6‑22, 2026 – The 2026 Winter Olympics take place in Milan‑Cortina, featuring figure skating events and live coverage on BBC platforms. [1]
Feb 2026 (men’s free skate) – Ilia Malinin, the pre‑event favorite, falls twice in the Olympic men’s free skate, misses his signature quadruple axel and drops from first after the short program to eighth overall. [1]
Feb 18, 2026 – Simone Biles meets Malinin in Milan, says she “enters protection mode,” and hands him concise bullet‑point advice to help him process the experience and protect his mental health. [1]
Feb 18, 2026 – Malinin posts on Instagram, “On the world’s biggest stage… invisible battles… vile online hatred attacks the mind,” describing the pressure and online abuse he endured. [1]
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- https://www.instagram.com/p/DU0C9SODZHe/?hl=en (cited 1 times)