AP Spotlight WELLNESS Olympic figure skaters offer wellness tips for weekend athletes. 'Hard ice always wins' STEPHEN WADE Associated Press Feb 22, 2026 Feb 22, 2026 Updated Mar 10, 2026 0 × USA Today - Vertical USAT's Jordan Mendoza breaks down Ilia Malinin's last free skate, and what Malinin himself said about the pressure on him. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The figure skaters at the Winter Olympics make it look easy; sheer elegance on hard ice.kAmqFE 6=:E6 D<2E6CD 2=D@ 7:89E :?;FC:6D[ >F49 =:<6 E96 C6DE @7 FD H9@ H@C< @FE[ 8@ E@ E96 8J> @C DH:> E@ DE2J 7:E]k^AmkAmQ}@ 2E9=6E6 2E E9:D =6G6= :D `__T 7F==J 962=E9J[Q vC6E496? |@9?6J[ E96 5:C64E@C @7 >65:42= 2?5 A6C7@C>2?46 D6CG:46D 7@C &]$] u:8FC6 $<2E:?8[ E@=5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD 7C@> |:=2?] QxEVD 23@FE >2?28:?8 H92E6G6C :E :D E92E >2J 36 3C62<:?8 5@H?]Qk^Am Aleksandr Selevko of Estonia competes during the men's figure skating short program on Feb. 10 at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Christophe Ena, Associated Press kAm%96 <6J 7@C ~=J>A:4 D<2E6CD :D 86EE:?8 BF:4< EC62E>6?E] x7 2 <?66 DH6==D[ E96 324< 2496D @C 2 D92CA 3=256 =62G6D 2 82D9[ 7:8FC6 D<2E6CD 2E E96 ~=J>A:4D 92G6 A9JD:4:2?D[ 2E9=6E:4 EC2:?6CD 2?5 A9JD:42= E96C2A:DED E@ 96=A]k^Am People are also reading… Watch: New Iowa running backs coach explains why he rejoined Hawkeyes 8 children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say Report: Iowa State fan-favorite Cade Kelderman enters transfer portal Former Cyclone Addy Brown commits to reigning NCAA Champs Grinnell's Will Slagle recommits to Iowa State, recruiting win for Jimmy Rogers A timeline of assassination attempts and threats against Trump Pope Leo signals shift away from Catholic Church's focus on sex Winners (Jermod McCoy) and losers (Diego Pavia) of 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 History-making Munetaka Murakami is already 'one of the boys' with White Sox NBC's Mike Tomlin reveals why he left Steelers, thoughts on Aaron Rodgers What Jay Norvell said makes Iowa special and why he wanted to be a Hawkeye again Jill On Money: Making sense of stocks at new highs Trump administration rejects women picked for soybean board, appoints men instead Iowa State star Audi Crooks transferring to Big 12 rival Trumps tell ABC to 'take a stand' on Kimmel after 'hateful' joke kAm|@9?6J[ H9@ 9@=5D 2 5@4E@C2E6 :? :?E6C5:D4:A=:?2CJ 962=E9 D4:6?46D[ =:DE65 D6G6C2= C65 7=28D E92E D<2E6CD 2?5 DE277 H2E49 7@C[ 2?5 H6==?6DD E:AD 7@C H66<6?5 2E9=6E6D]k^Amk9am$@>6 H2C?:?8 7=28Dk^9amkAmkDEC@?8m`] %C62E 24FE6 :?;FC:6D :>>65:2E6=J]k^DEC@?8m Q#64@8?:K:?8 2?5 C6DA@?5:?8 E@ 24FE6 :?;FCJ :D 9F86 2?5 H92E H6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 5@ 23@FE :E G6CDFD :8?@C:?8 :E[ 3642FD6 :E FDF2==J 86ED H@CD6[Q |@9?6J D2:5] Q*@F 92G6 E@ 86E C:5 @7 E96 @=5\D49@@= A9:=@D@A9J @7 ;FDE DF4< :E FA 2?5 5@?VE 5@ 2?JE9:?8 23@FE :E]Qk^Am kAmkDEC@?8ma] %C62E>6?E @7 49C@?:4 :?;FC:6D]k^DEC@?8m t=:E6 7:8FC6 D<2E6CD 42?VE E2<6 D:I H66<D @77[ 2?5 2E E96 ~=J>A:4D[ :EVD A6C7@C> ?@H @C ?6G6C] Q(6 5@?VE D2J C6DE 7@C EH@ H66<D[ H6 D2J =6EVD 86E J@F E@ A6C7@C> 2D D276=J 2D A@DD:3=6 … H:E9@FE 42FD:?8 7FCE96C :?;FCJ[Q |@9?6J D2:5] $@>6 :?E6CG6?E:@?D 2C6 D:>A=6[ =:<6 255:?8 A255:?8 E@ E96 766E E@ @77D6E D>2== 7C:4E:@? :?D:56 E96 D<2E6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mb] {@DD @7 >@3:=:EJ 2?5 4@>A6?D2E:@?] $EC6E49:?8 2?5 H2C>FAD 2C6 4C:E:42=]k^DEC@?8m Q(96? H6 =@D6 >@3:=:EJ @C 7=6I:3:=:EJ @FC 3@5:6D DE2CE E@ 4@>A6?D2E6 2?5 E96 DEC6DD :D AFE @? 2?@E96C A2CE[Q |@9?6J 6IA=2:?65] u@C 7:8FC6 D<2E6CD E92E 4@F=5 >62? QE96 5:776C6?46 36EH66? 5@:?8 2 5@F3=6 ;F>A 2?5 2 BF25CFA=6 ;F>A]Qk^Am kAmkDEC@?8mc] s62=:?8 H:E9 @G6CFD6]k^DEC@?8m |@9?6J D2JD G2CJ E96 G@=F>6 2?5 :?E6?D:EJ @7 EC2:?:?8] $<2E6CD 4@>A6E6 J62C C@F?5] $96 FD65 E96 6I2>A=6 @7 D<2E6CD 2C49:?8 E96:C 324< C6A62E65=J E@ 5@ =2J324< DA:?D] Q*@F 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 324< A2:? ?@ >2EE6C H9@ J@F 2C6[Q D96 D2:5] Qp== @7 @FC 2E9=6E6D G2CJ E96:C EC2:?:?8] *@F H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 J@F 2C6 492?8:?8 J@FC =@25 D@ E96 3@5J 42? C64@G6C]Qk^Am Maxim Naumov of the United States competes on Feb. 10 during the men's figure skating short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Ashley Landis, Associated Press k9amV%96 92C5 :46 2=H2JD H:?DVk^9am kAmsC] uC65 (@C<>2? 92D 366? 2 E62> A9JD:4:2? 7@C &]$] u:8FC6 $<2E:?8 7@C ad J62CD[ 2?5 =2E6=J 96VD EC62E:?8 >@C6 4@?4FDD:@?D] %9:D >:89E DFCAC:D6 D@>6 H9@ D66 @?=J E96 6=682?46[ 3FE 7:8FC6 D<2E:?8 92D 366? AFD9:?8 E96 =:>:ED @7 A6C7@C>2?46[ 2?5 E96C6VD 72==@FE]k^Am kAm~E96C 7C6BF6?E :?;FC:6D :?4=F56 =246C2E:@?D 7C@> <?:76\6586 D<2E6D[ @C 9:A[ <?66[ 2?<=6 2?5 7@@E :?;FC:6D — 2?5 D9@F=56C :?;FC:6D 7@C >6? =:7E:?8 A2CE?6CD @G6C9625 :? E96 A2:CD 6G6?E]k^AmkAmQ%96JVC6 5@:?8 @G6C9625 =:7ED[ DA:??:?8 2C@F?5 @? E96 :46 — 2?5 D>:=:?8[Q (@C<>2? D2:5] Q$<2E6CD 2C6 5@:?8 >F49 >@C6 56>2?5:?8 2?5 288C6DD:G6 — C:D<J :7 J@F H:== — >2?6FG6CD] %96 92C5 :46 2=H2JD H:?D] (96? J@F 72== @? E96 :46[ D@>6E9:?8 :D 8@:?8 E@ 8:G6]Qk^Am kAm!2CE @7 (@C<>2?VD ;@3 :D 5:28?@D:D 2?5 EC62E>6?E] %96 @E96C :D 2 9@=:DE:4 2AAC@249 E@ 8F:5:?8 J@F?8 2E9=6E6D] %9:D 2=D@ :?4=F56D >2?28:?8 DEC6DD 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9]k^Am kAmQ{:76 5@6D?VE 2=H2JD 8@ J@FC H2J[Q (@C<>2? D2:5] Q(6VC6 :? 2 ;F5865 DA@CE] *@F >2J ?@E 2=H2JD 86E E96 D4@C6D J@F E9:?< J@F 56D6CG6] qFE 9@H 5@ J@F 92?5=6 :En *@F 92G6 E@ 86E J@FCD6=7 >6?E2==J 7@4FD65 2?5 36 C625J E@ A6C7@C>]Qk^Am Ilia Malinin of the United States falls during the men's free skate program. Natacha Pisarenko, Associated Press kAmx=:2 |2=:?:?VD EH@ 72==D =2DE H66< :? |:=2? C6>:?5 @7 E96 AC6DDFC6 6=:E6 D<2E6CD 7246] |2=:?:? 56D4C:365 766=:?8 @G6CH96=>65] Qx ;FDE 76=E =:<6 x 925 ?@ 4@?EC@=[Q 96 D2:5]k^AmkAmpH2J 7C@> 4@>A6E:E:@?[ (@C<>2? 2D<D D<2E6CD E@ 255 G2C:6EJ E@ E96:C EC2:?:?8 — 2?5 E@ E96:C =:76]k^Am kAmQ}@E @?=J 4C@DD\EC2:? :? J@FC DA@CE[ 3FE 4C@DD\EC2:? 2D 2 9F>2?[Q 96 D2:5] Qs:G6CD:7J J@FC :?E6C6DED] p G6CJ 4@>>@? >:DE2<6 :D DA6?5:?8 2== @7 J@FC E:>6 @? E96 :46 2?5 =6DD E:>6 :? @77\E96\:46 EC2:?:?8]Qk^AmkAm(@C<>2? DF886DE65 2 H:56C G:6H[ 6G6? 7@C 6=:E6 2E9=6E6D 2E E96 ~=J>A:4 =6G6=] w6 C676C6?465 2 E6=6G:D:@? 25 E96 }rpp C2? D6G6C2= J62CD 28@[ H9:49 C6>:?565 4@==686 2E9=6E6D E92E E96:C =:76 :D ?@H DA@CED — 3FE :E H@?VE 2=H2JD 36]k^AmkAmQpE E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J[ 4@>A6E:E:G6 42C66CD 6?5[Q (@C<>2? D2:5] Q(9J 5@ H6 6G6? 92G6 DA@CEn xEVD E@ 3F:=5 C6D:=:6?46[ E@ 3F:=5 E96 =:76 D<:==D J@F ?665]Qk^Am k9amr@?4FDD:@?D[ 4@>6324<Dk^9am kAm%96 p>6C:42? A2:CD E62> @7 t==:6 z2> 2?5 s2??J ~V$962 <?@HD 23@FE :?;FCJ] {2DE J62C[ z2> H2D @FE 7@C 2 >@?E9 H:E9 2 4@?4FDD:@? 2?5 ~V$962 ?66565 7@@E DFC86CJ]k^AmkAm&?6IA64E65=J[ E96J AFE @? @?6 @7 E96 36DE A6C7@C>2?46D @7 E96:C =:G6D E@ 96=A E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D H:? :ED D64@?5 DEC2:89E ~=J>A:4 8@=5 >652= :? E96 E62> 6G6?E]k^Am Canada's Deanna Stellato-Dudek falls on the ice as partner Maxime Deschamps looks on during the pairs short program. Bernat Armangue, Associated Press kAmQ(6 ;FDE H2?E65 E@ <:?5 @7 8:G6 :E @FC 2==[ 2?5 x 766= =:<6 E92EVD A2CE @7 E96 C62D@? H9J s2??J 2?5 x 92G6 366? 23=6 E@ H@C< E9C@F89 D@ >F49 @7 H92E A6@A=6 H@F=5 D66 2D @3DE24=6D[Q z2> D2:5] Qx E9:?< :? E96 @3DE24=6D H6 7@F?5 2 H2J E@ 4@??64E 36EE6C 2?5 36 2 DEC@?86C E62>]Qk^Am kAms62??2 $E6==2E@\sF56<[ 2? p>6C:42?\3@C? r2?25:2? A2:CD D<2E6C 2E E96 ~=J>A:4D[ 9:E 96C 9625 @? E96 :46 :? 2 EC2:?:?8 D6DD:@? @? y2?] b_] %96 ca\J62C\@=5 $E6==2E@\sF56< 2?5 A2CE?6C |2I:>6 s6D492>AD 925 E@ H:E95C2H 7C@> E96 E62> 6G6?E 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE H66< @7 E96 ~=J>A:4D]k^Am kAmQ*@F 92G6 E@ E2<6 6IEC6>6=J DA64:7:4 42C6 @7 J@FC 3@5J[Q D96 E@=5 %96 p!] Qx 5@?VE D>@<6[ x 5@?VE 5C:?<[ xV> 6IEC6>6=J 962=E9J] p?5 x 5@ E9:?< 36:?8 23=6 E@ EC62E >J 3@5J =:<6 E92E 7@C E96 =2DE 564256 92D 96=A65 >6 E@ 962= G6CJ BF:4<=J]Qk^Am kAmk6>mp! DA@CEDHC:E6C s2G6 $<C6EE2 4@?EC:3FE65 7C@> |:=2?]k^6>mk^Am 0 Comments Related to this story Olympians Liu and Gu travel very different paths, and China-US relations hang over their stories It is as captivating as it is divisive: the tale of two Chinese American athletic geniuses who have so much in common but make such different choices. Why the Olympic pressure can be too much, even for Ilia Malinin USAT's Jordan Mendoza breaks down Ilia Malinin's last free skate, and what Malinin himself said about the pressure on him. Watch Now: Related Video Everything you need to know to enjoy the 2026 Kentucky Derby at home What to know about win, place and show bets in horse racing What to know about win, place and show bets in horse racing Tennessee athletic director Danny White explains why he wants CFP to have 24 teams Tennessee athletic director Danny White explains why he wants CFP to have 24 teams Brendan Sorsby's Gambling Investigation: Texas Tech's Dilemma Brendan Sorsby's Gambling Investigation: Texas Tech's Dilemma Recommended for you
Olympians Liu and Gu travel very different paths, and China-US relations hang over their stories It is as captivating as it is divisive: the tale of two Chinese American athletic geniuses who have so much in common but make such different choices.
Why the Olympic pressure can be too much, even for Ilia Malinin USAT's Jordan Mendoza breaks down Ilia Malinin's last free skate, and what Malinin himself said about the pressure on him.
