Get ready for a thrilling day at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where Team USA is poised to make history! But here’s where it gets controversial: as figure skating phenom Ilia Malinin chases another gold, questions swirl about his unprecedented moves and the judging that could decide his fate. Will he land the elusive quad Axel? And is the judging system truly fair? Let’s dive in!
Day 7 in Milano Cortina promises a flurry of medals, with all eyes on Ilia Malinin, the 19-year-old sensation who’s already claimed gold in the team figure skating event. After a jaw-dropping short program where he executed his signature backflip—a move banned for nearly five decades—Malinin leads the pack with a score of 108.16. But here’s the kicker: he’s yet to unleash his most daring trick, the quad Axel, which could solidify his legacy. If he succeeds, it’ll mark the second straight Olympic victory for the U.S. in men’s singles figure skating. But is he the only skater who can pull off a backflip? Not exactly, but he’s the first to do it legally in elite competition since 1976, thanks to a recent rule change. And this is the part most people miss: the backflip was reclassified as a choreographic element just before the 2024-25 season, paving the way for Malinin’s historic revival of the move.
Controversy alert: Malinin’s dominance has earned him the nickname ‘Quad God,’ but not everyone agrees he’s untouchable. Critics argue that his reliance on quadruple jumps overshadows artistic expression. What do you think? Is technical difficulty more important than artistry in figure skating? Let us know in the comments!
Meanwhile, the U.S. women’s hockey team faces Italy in the quarterfinals at 3:10 p.m. ET. After outscoring opponents 20-1 in the preliminary round, they’re heavy favorites. But here’s where it gets interesting: Hilary Knight is just one goal away from breaking multiple U.S. Olympic records. Will she make history today?
In snowboarding, Team USA’s four athletes will compete in the women’s snowboard cross event, starting with seeding runs at 4 a.m. ET. And keep an eye on 17-year-old Alessandro Barbieri, who’s gunning for gold in the men’s halfpipe finals after a strong qualifying performance.
Here’s the full schedule for Friday, February 13 (all times Eastern):
- Cross-Country Skiing: Men’s 10 km Interval Start Free* – 5:45 a.m.
- Snowboarding: Women’s Cross Final* – 7:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
- Biathlon: Men’s 10 km Sprint* – 8 a.m.
- Speed Skating: Men’s 10,000m* – 10 a.m.
- Figure Skating: Men’s Free Skate* – 1 p.m. - 5:10 p.m.
- Snowboarding: Men’s Halfpipe Final* – 1:30 p.m.
- Women’s Ice Hockey: Quarterfinal – Team USA vs. Italy – 3:10 p.m.
*Denotes medal event
And don’t miss this: The U.S. women’s curling team scored a historic 9-8 victory over Canada, their first-ever Olympic win against their rivals. Meanwhile, Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo tied the all-time Winter Olympics gold medal record with his eighth gold in the 10 km cross-country freestyle skiing event. With three more races to go, will he set a new record?
Controversy in ice dancing: Evan Bates and Madison Chock narrowly missed gold after a French judge scored them more than seven points lower than the winning French duo. The International Skating Union defended the decision, but Chock called for more transparency. What’s your take? Was the judging fair, or does the system need an overhaul?
Stay tuned for live updates as Team USA chases more medals. Will Malinin land the quad Axel? Will Knight break records? The drama is just beginning. Share your thoughts below—we want to hear from you!
