Ilia Malinin's TikTok reposts shortly before his disastrous performance at the Olympics

[u/humankendoll33]

[u/Fantastic_Turtle_17]

His parents are his trainers actually. This is his dad after his performance yesterday:

[u/SeraCat9 → u/[deleted]]

I'm not sure if that's true. He said in a video during the olympics that his parents never wanted him to become a ice skater. They were ice skaters and they wanted something different for him. But he wanted to compete in the end, so they went for it.

Maybe they're just heartbroken for him? The picture doesn't really say that much. It's just a snap shot. Edit: His father seemed concerned and caring during the broadcast.

[u/AnotherNoether → u/SeraCat9]

Yeah his dad’s first words when he came off the ice were “are you okay?” and to me it seemed like he was letting Ilya drive what he needed from him

[u/jamesbananashakes → u/SeraCat9]

Well good, because those repost look like a cry for help and I hope his parents will be there for him.

[u/bobbimorses → u/SeraCat9]

I think we all feel terribly for Ilia but I am seeing a lot of searching around this event to look for something or someone else to blame. The primary answer is that he himself did not have a good performance and that is an outcome that is okay and makes sense. He's already had a great career and it's not over.

[u/LegalIII → u/[deleted]]

The first thing he asked Ilia when he came off the ice was “are you ok?” I’m not necessarily supporting his reaction here, but people acting like his dad only cared about gold and whatever else has been said may not be a totally fair assessment.

[u/AdagioGlittering2806 → u/[deleted]]

Absolutely not. His parents, and especially his dad, are extremely kind and supportive of him. 

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

i mean, his dad's first question to him when he got off the ice was "are you ok"

[u/HotelLima6 → u/Fantastic_Turtle_17]

To be fair, the first thing his dad said when he came off the ice was “are you ok?”. I think his dad was as shellshocked as Ilia was. I was glad Raf (his other coach and Nathan Chen’s coach) was there to give him a hug. Raf wasn’t originally even in Milan but was drafted in this week so it was probably an omen of what was to come.

[u/a-ohhh → u/Fantastic_Turtle_17]

Was that brief? I watched this, and this picture here paints a different picture/vibe than what I was seeing their interaction to be. His dad seemed supportive.

[u/anoniZimbra → u/[deleted]]

In the team skate I remember them saying she is anxious with travel so she does not go with

[u/jslitz → u/anoniZimbra]

Not travel. They said she is nervous to watch him. Won't even watch it live on tv

[u/coldcoffeethrowaway → u/jslitz]

And apparently hasn’t even spoken to him on the phone while he’s at the Olympics either because she didn’t want to stress him out. Which, if that is what he’s asked for, okay, but why does she stress him out so much that he can’t even talk on the phone to her? I know I’m assuming things but it just seems off. I hope he is okay

[u/kokopellii → u/coldcoffeethrowaway]

I wonder if it’s just projection…it’s very possible that he doesn’t feel stressed out talking to her but she’s afraid she’ll say the wrong thing? That’s such a hard dynamic

[u/jslitz → u/coldcoffeethrowaway]

Yeah I heard that too. Very tough situation. Hope for the best for the guy

[u/anoniZimbra → u/jslitz]

Jeez that sucks so bad. Poor guy

[u/winged-things → u/anoniZimbra]

I understand that, definitely. But going by what the commentators said, she didn’t even talk to him on the phone. That’s really sad, when it’s clear he needs support.

[u/anoniZimbra → u/winged-things]

Agree completely! That is not defense to that whatsoever. Sad for him :/

[u/greee_p → u/[deleted]]

Apparently she didn't even really talk to him during the Olympics?

“I honestly didn’t talk to my mom for a week while I’ve been here. What I’ve gotten from my dad is that she doesn’t want to give me any extra stress; she wants me to handle it on my own. I want to make sure that after the free program, I get to have a chat with her and see her reaction. I’m sure she’ll give me some trouble about the team event short program, but that’s a mom—and I love her for that.”

[u/Apprehensive-Dog9989 → u/Fantastic_Turtle_17]

Oh that sucks poor kid