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Ilia Malinin has opened up about the intense pressure and online abuse surrounding his stunning setback at the 2026 Winter Olympics, hinting that more of his story will emerge Saturday.

The 21-year-old American posted a video Monday contrasting scenes from his many victories with a black-and-white image of him holding his head in his hands. In the caption, he described mounting strain that culminated in what he called an “inevitable crash.”

Saturday is also when Malinin is expected to participate in the traditional exhibition gala closing the Olympic figure skating program.

Malinin entered the individual competition in Milan as the overwhelming favorite after helping the United States capture the team gold medal. Instead, he fell twice during Friday’s free skate, struggled through much of the program and finished eighth.

Afterward, he admitted the Olympic pressure had overwhelmed him.

“I didn’t really know how to handle it,” Malinin said.

In Monday’s post, Malinin wrote that even athletes who appear strongest can be confronting “invisible battles” internally. He said hateful online messages, fear and unrelenting pressure can accumulate despite efforts to remain composed.

The result in Milan ended a remarkable unbeaten run spanning 14 competitions and more than two years. Malinin, the son of Olympic skaters Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, is expected to pursue his third straight world championship next month in Prague.

Signs of strain had surfaced earlier in the Winter Games. Malinin delivered an uneven short program during the team event and placed behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, who later earned the individual silver medal. Malinin again discussed the Olympic pressure after the Americans secured team gold.

His confidence appeared to return when he won the individual short program. During his free-skate introduction, he even pretended he might attempt a risky backflip on the carpeted runway.

Malinin opened the program successfully with a quad lutz, but trouble followed when he abandoned his quad axel attempt. Two later falls contributed to his lowest score since the U.S. International Classic in September 2022.

Following the competition, Malinin embraced and congratulated surprise Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan. He then faced reporters and explained how rapidly his mental state had deteriorated before the performance.

“The nerves just went, so overwhelming,” he said. As he moved into his starting position, Malinin said traumatic memories and negative thoughts began flooding his mind until he could no longer manage them.

“All I know is that it wasn’t my best skate,” Malinin said later. “And it’s done, so I can’t go back and change it, even though I would love to.”