Ilia Malinin has been on the journey of a lifetime at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina with a whirlwind of ups and downs throughout his Olympic debut. Having gone into The Olympic Games as the favorite to win gold in the men’s figure skating competition and then experiencing heartbreak on the ice when he placed eighth overall, Malinin has won the world’s hearts with his resiliency and strength of perspective on his emotional Olympic rollercoaster ride.
Now Malinin has revealed that he has one last goal to achieve in Italy before he returns to his home in Vienna, Virginia.
Malinin’s Final Goal in Italy is Related to His Role as a Cat Dad
GettyIlia Malinin performs at the 2026 Olympic Games.
In an interview with People on February 18, 2026, Ilia Malinin shared that he is focused on simply enjoying the remainder of his Olympic experience. His joy and excitement when watching teammate Alysa Liu win the gold medal during the women’s free skate event was evidence enough that he is accomplishing this aim. However, enjoying the rest of the Olympics is not Ilia’s final goal of the Winter Games. Rather, his last objective in Italy has to do with his own two cats who are cheering him on from his home in the United States.
When revealing his last goal of the Olympics, Malinin told People that, “A cat cafe would be fun. I’m really missing my cats right now, so I would love to go to a cat cafe.”
At home in Virginia, Malinin has two pet cats who have been regularly featured on his social media accounts. “I have a cat named Mysti and a cat named Miu Miu. Mysti is a black cat while Miu Miu is a white cat. And they’re very cuddly. They’re like one of my new therapy, new therapeutic animals. I’m excited to go home to see them again,” Malinin shared.
He’s Striving to Achieve His Last Goal in Italy as He Prepares for the Gala Skate Event
GettyIlia Malinin could be become the most decorated U.S. figure skater of all time.
On Feburary 21, 2026, Ilia Malinin will join other members of Team USA for the grand finale of Olympic figure skating – the gala skate event. During the skating showcase, he won’t have to worry about his score nor earning a spot on the podium. Instead, he’ll be able to show the world his affinity for skating alongside his extraordinary athletic abilities which have earned him the nickname ‘Quad God’.
Malinin was unable to successfully complete his iconic quadruple axel jump, which is a skating element which requires four and a half airborne rotations, during his free skate performance. However, he will now have a second chance at the element during the gala skate on the penultimate day of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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