MILAN, Italy —2026 Winter Olympics: The atmosphere at the Milano Ice Skating Arena has reached a fever pitch today, February 13, 2026. As the sun sets over the Italian Alps, the world’s attention turns to the ice for the conclusion of the Men’s Single Skating competition. American sensation Ilia Malinin, known globally as the “Quad God,” enters the Free Skating medal round with a commanding lead and a date with destiny.
After a sublime short program earlier this week, Malinin sits at the top of the leaderboard with 108.16 points. He holds a five-point cushion over his nearest rival, the Beijing 2022 silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan (103.07), and France’s Adam Siao Him Fa (102.55). But while the scoreboards track points, the headlines are tracking history—specifically, the “forbidden fruit” of figure skating that has finally become a legal Olympic climax.
2026 Winter Olympics Return of the Backflip: From Protest to Spectacle
One of the most discussed storylines of the Milano Cortina Games has been the legalization of the backflip. For nearly 50 years, the move was the ultimate taboo in competitive figure skating. Originally banned in 1976 because officials deemed it too dangerous and “acrobatic” for a sport rooted in classical grace, it became a symbol of defiance in 1998.
In the Nagano Games, French skater Surya Bonaly, feeling dismissed by a judging system she believed was plagued by systemic bias against her athleticism, performed an iconic one-footed backflip during her final Olympic program. She knew she would be penalized, and indeed, the judges docked her points.
Fast forward to 2024: The International Skating Union (ISU) officially removed the ban, arguing that the move adds necessary “spectacle” to the sport. Ilia Malinin has embraced this new era with open arms. Earlier this week, during the team event, he made history by landing the first-ever legal backflip in Olympic competition, helping secure a gold medal for Team USA. Today, fans are waiting to see if he will use the move as his final exclamation point in the quest for individual gold.
Technical Mastery: The Quadruple Axel Looming
While the backflip captures the crowd’s gasps, the gold medal will be decided by technical precision. Malinin’s technical ceiling is unlike anything the sport has ever seen. At 21 years old, he remains the only human to have ever landed the quadruple Axel—a jump requiring four-and-a-half revolutions in the air—in competition.
Malinin opted for a “safer” triple Axel in his short program to secure his lead, but his planned content for the free skate includes a record-tying seven quadruple jumps. If he successfully lands the quad Axel tonight, he will be the first to do so on the Olympic stage.
“I’m hoping that I’ll feel good enough to do it,” Malinin told reporters. “But I always prioritize health and safety. I want to be in the right mindset where I feel confident to go into it.”
Olympic Live Updates: Day 7 Highlights
While Milan focuses on the ice, the rest of the Games are delivering high-drama across the snow-capped Dolomites.
Norway’s Klaebo Equals All-Time Record
In Tesero, Norwegian cross-country legend Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has officially entered the pantheon of the greatest Winter Olympians. By winning the men’s 10km interval-start race today, the 29-year-old secured his eighth career gold medal.
Klaebo now stands tied for the most Winter Olympic golds in history, sharing the record with legends Marit Bjoergen, Bjoern Daehlie, and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen. Klaebo clocked a time of 20:36.2, collapsing at the finish line from sheer exhaustion. He finished 4.9 seconds ahead of France’s Mathis Desloges, who took silver, and 14 seconds ahead of fellow Norwegian Einar Hedegart, who claimed the bronze.
Snowboard Cross: American Heartbreak and Italian Joy
It was a tough day for Team USA’s Faye Thelen in the women’s snowboard cross. After a sluggish start in the first semifinal, she finished third, missing out on the “Big Final” and a shot at the podium. Meanwhile, the home crowd erupted as Italian favorite Michela Moioli stormed back from fourth place to win her semifinal, qualifying for a gold-medal showdown against Eva Adamczykova (Czechia), Noemie Wiedmer (Switzerland), and Josie Baff (Australia).
Hockey: Nordic Rivalry Tightens
At the Milano Santagiulia Arena, the atmosphere is electric as Finland holds a narrow 3-1 lead over arch-rivals Sweden with just ten minutes left in the third period. Finland’s Anton Lundell recently saved a certain goal by pulling a Swedish shot off the goal line, leaving the split crowd of Finns and Swedes in a state of breathless tension.
Milano Cortina 2026: The Medal Table Status
As the Games reach their midpoint, Norway has reclaimed its throne at the top of the standings, though the host nation is close behind.
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Norway | 7 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| 2 | Italy | 6 | 3 | 8 | 17 |
| 3 | United States | 4 | 7 | 3 | 14 |
| 4 | Germany | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 5 | Sweden | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
How to Watch the Men’s Figure Skating Finals
The Men’s Free Skate begins at 1:00 PM ET (7:00 PM local time).
- TV: USA Network (Groups 1 & 2) and NBC (Groups 3 & 4).
- Streaming: Peacock will stream the entire event live, including the final group featuring Malinin and Kagiyama.