A COMEBACK THAT SHOOK THE ICE — Ilia Malinin Ignites Milano Cortina With a Performance No One Saw Coming

At Milano Cortina 2026, Ilia Malinin didn’t just step back into the spotlight — he unleashed a gala routine that crackled with raw intensity. Skating to Fear by NF, the “Quad God” delivered something far moodier and more gripping than a typical exhibition number.

With his hood up and movements razor-sharp, Malinin channeled pressure and defiance into every edge and turn, holding the arena in stunned silence. Each glide felt deliberate, every gesture loaded with tension.

Then the release: a massive quad followed by his trademark backflip shattered the stillness and brought the crowd to its feet. It wasn’t merely a performance — it was a bold declaration etched into the ice.

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Ilia Malinin’s emotional “Fear” skate to Madison Chock & Evan Bates’ chemistry: Best of the 2026 Winter Olympics exhibition gala moments

Figure skating events at the Winter Olympics concluded after the Figure Skating Exhibition Gala held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Multiple champions and other elite athletes participated in the gala to captivate fans for one last time during the near-end of the ongoing Games.

40 Olympic figure skaters participated on Saturday night to wrap up the spectacles. The exhibition gala started with former Italian figure skater Carolina Kostner’s performance. She won a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Games. On Saturday night, she performed a duet with a 3D projection, showcasing an athlete’s journey. Let’s take a look at the memorable moments from the Figure Skating Exhibition Gala.

Ilia Malinin’s Fear performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics exhibition gala

Ilia Malinin of Team United States during the Figure Skating Exhibition Gala at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. (Photo by Getty Images)
After falling short of winning a medal despite being a fan favorite, Ilia Malinin stunned the fans with his closing performance at the exhibition gala at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He began his performance to the sound of phone notifications ringing and cameras snapping to silence. Sporting a gray sweatshirt and black jeans, he skated to the NF song “Fear,” highlighting the situation of individuals under immense pressure.

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The “Quad God” performed one quadruple jump and his trademark backflip with a one-footed landing.

Alysa Liu’s routine to Stateside by PinkPantheress

After stunning the fans with her incredible and unexpected performance during the women’s free skating to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, Liu performed an impressive routine on Stateside by Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress in a blue dress. She once again showed off her skills by performing a triple.

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Ahead of her final performance at the 2026 Games, Liu won two gold medals in the individual and team events.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates elevate their chemistry on “Once I Was Loved”

Madison Chock and Evan Bates flaunted their beautiful chemistry with a graceful performance on “Once I Was Loved” by Melody Gardot to conclude their run at the Winter Olympics. While Bates was sporting a brown shirt with black trousers, Chock opted for an elegant white dress.

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The real-life couple won a gold and silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Mikhail Shaidorov closes the show with a tribute to Kung Fu Panda at the Winter Olympics exhibition gala

After winning the men’s singles in Italy, Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov showed the biggest highlight of his run at the ongoing Winter Games. He was the last performer on Saturday night and paid a tribute to the 2008 movie “Kung Fu Panda” by donning a full-body panda suit.

He locked horns with Deadpool and Sub Zero in the performance before they brought him to the ground. As he lay, Tenacious D’s cover of Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time” began to play, after which he took off his robe and continued his routine. He executed a triple, a pirouette, a cartwheel, and a leg kick before receiving the standing ovation.

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Shaidorov won a gold medal in the men’s singles in Italy in an unexpected fashion after surpassing the Japanese duo of Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato.

Jackie Chan honors performers at the Winter Olympics exhibition gala

Jackie Chan at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Milan-Cortina – Source: Getty
Actor and martial artist Jackie Chan was present at the Figure Skating Exhibition Gala. He was seen handing over two panda stuffed animals and honoring the athletes after their performances.

American figure skater Amber Glenn also swirled to “That’s Life” by Lady Gaga. She became the oldest U.S. women’s skater to qualify for the Olympic team at the age of 26, since 1928.