As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan draw to a close, the figure skating gala exhibition at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 21 offered a dazzling and emotional curtain call for the sport’s biggest stars. The 2.5-hour event brought together more than 40 Olympic medalists and fan favorites, providing them with a rare opportunity to skate free from the pressures of competition and to connect with fans in a celebration of artistry, resilience, and joy.
Among the most anticipated performers was Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old American sensation nicknamed the “Quad God.” Despite a disappointing eighth-place finish in the men’s singles event—where he had been heavily favored for gold after a strong short program—Malinin seized the gala as a stage for redemption and self-expression. His emotional routine, set to "Fear" by American rapper NF, addressed the intense social media scrutiny and mental health struggles that have shadowed his Olympic journey. Dressed in a grey hoodie and frayed jeans, Malinin mimed scrolling through his phone, flinching at imaginary flashbulbs, and pulling his hood over his head, vividly portraying the weight of public expectation and criticism.
"This message and this program and song is something that really spoke to me. It really represented how I’ve been feeling the last year leading up to these Olympics," Malinin said, reflecting on the overwhelming pressure and self-doubt he faced. "There’s been so much pressure, so much doubt and everything around me, the noise with the media… It’s been so overwhelming." According to his earlier Instagram post, Malinin described his Olympic debut as resulting in an "inevitable crash," a sentiment echoed throughout his performance.
Despite the heartbreak of missing the podium after two falls and landing only three of his planned seven quadruple jumps in the free skate, Malinin’s gala routine was a tour de force. He landed one quadruple jump and unleashed his trademark backflip with a one-footed landing, sending the crowd into a frenzy of applause and cheers. In a powerful finale, he pretended to put on headphones, bringing the arena to immediate silence—a poignant metaphor for shutting out the noise and reclaiming control. The thunderous ovation that followed was as much an appreciation of his prodigious talent as it was an acknowledgment of the burden he had carried.
Malinin’s performance was not just about athletic prowess; it was a bold statement about the humanity behind the athlete. "With what happened, I’m still very, very grateful to be here and I want to show to the world we’re also human beings," he shared. The exhibition allowed Malinin to replace some of the disappointment from earlier in the week with a memory of triumph, artistry, and connection with fans.
He was joined on the ice by fellow American Alysa Liu, who had a markedly different Olympic experience. The 20-year-old Californian, who had stepped away from skating after the 2022 Beijing Games due to burnout, made a stunning comeback in Milan, winning both team and individual gold. Her gala routine, set to "Stateside" by Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress, was a joyful celebration of rediscovered passion. Liu, who described herself as at "peak happiness" competing, skated with a carefree exuberance that delighted the audience and capped off an extraordinary Olympic return.
The American contingent also included Amber Glenn, who finished fifth in the women’s singles after a gutsy comeback in the free skate. Glenn performed to "That’s Life" by Lady Gaga, a fitting anthem for her journey through setbacks and resilience. As a three-time and reigning national champion, Glenn’s routine reflected both her technical skill and her ability to bounce back from adversity, having helped the U.S. defend its team gold medal earlier in the Games.
Other standout performances came from a global roster of medalists. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov, the surprise men’s singles gold medalist, entertained the crowd in a playful Kung Fu Panda costume—a light-hearted moment that saw him greeted by none other than martial artist and actor Jackie Chan. Ice dance gold medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France delivered a lyrical program to the piano composition "Mad Rush," while pairs champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan skated to Justin Timberlake’s "Can’t Stop the Feeling," infusing the arena with infectious energy.
The gala’s opening act was a special duet by Carolina Kostner, the Milan Cortina 2026 ambassador and 2014 Olympic bronze medalist, who performed alongside a 3D projection. The piece illustrated the journey of athletes from their first steps in the sport to the moment when "talent finds its home," capturing the essence of the Olympic dream.
Notably absent from the gala lineup was Mount Laurel’s Isabeau Levito, despite her prominence in U.S. women’s skating. The invite-only nature of the exhibition meant that not all medalists or top finishers could participate, adding to the exclusivity and prestige of the event. The selection included medalists from ice dance, pairs, women’s, and men’s figure skating, as well as a few non-medalists whose performances had captured the imagination of fans and judges alike.
Broadcast live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com starting at 2 p.m. ET, with a switch to NBC at 2:55 p.m. ET and a primetime re-air at 8 p.m. ET, the gala reached audiences across the globe. For those who missed the live event, streaming options were available on platforms such as Hulu + Live, YouTube TV, and Sling TV, ensuring fans could catch every spin, jump, and heartfelt moment.
As the Olympic flame prepares to be extinguished and athletes look ahead to new challenges, the 2026 figure skating gala will be remembered for its blend of technical brilliance, emotional candor, and pure entertainment. Whether it was Malinin’s message of vulnerability and resilience, Liu’s rediscovered joy, or the camaraderie among skating’s elite, the gala served as a reminder of why this sport continues to captivate audiences around the world.
With the Milano Ice Skating Arena filled with cheers and celebration, the gala marked a fitting end to the Olympic figure skating program—a night where artistry triumphed, stories were shared, and the humanity behind the medals took center stage.