Simone Biles reaches out to Ilia Malinin at Winter Olympics 2026: “I went into protection mode”
Seven-time Olympic gold medallist in artistic gymnastics, Simone Biles, intimately understands the monumental expectations athletes face when gold medals are viewed as the only acceptable outcome. This insight led her to reach out to fellow athlete Ilia Malinin, following his disappointing performance in the men’s figure skating final at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Attending the event, Biles observed Malinin’s struggle to finish outside the medal standings last Friday (13 February) while oratories echoed from the Milano Ice Skating Arena stands. Seeing a young athlete under the intense spotlight compelled her to take action beyond the hyper-competitive world of sports.
“I was really worried about how his mental health was going to be,” Biles stated during her press engagement on Tuesday (17 February) in Milano. As someone who has also contended with overwhelming pressure, she related deeply to the emotional turmoil Malinin faced. “When you’re expected to perform at the highest level but don’t deliver, I worry how that affects his mindset and perception by the world.”
Biles, who bore the weight of immense expectation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—where she ultimately won team silver and balance beam bronze—understood Malinin’s challenge. Despite her podium finishes, her own battle with “the twisties” had drastically shifted her trajectory.
“It was a process of a couple of years,” shared Biles, clarifying that her progress didn’t happen overnight but required consistent effort and inner resilience.
Recognizing Malinin’s vulnerable position, she took swift action to provide support. “I did a couple bullet points and sent it to him right away so he knew he had support in a different aspect. It was heart-wrenching,” she expressed.
When they finally met, Biles’s aim was clear: validation. “I wanted him to know we’ve gone through similar experiences, but you can still emerge victoriously,” she remarked. Malinin’s response was affirming, revealing just how important Bilesc’s reaffirmation was to him. The candid discussion allowed him to articulate his feelings about competitive pressure, showcasing the profound value of solidarity among athletes.
Biles’s commitment to fostering mental health awareness in sports illustrates a crucial pivot; not just performance evaluation but also ensuring athletes feel heard and understood.
As discussions continue around the emotional demands of high-performance sports, the interactions between Biles and Malinin remind us all of the human side behind every competitive soul.
