Ilia Malinin, Simone Biles Steal Spotlight With Olympic Exchange

On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, two prominent American Olympians, gymnast Simone Biles and figure skater Ilia Malinin, appeared as guests on the “Today Show,” leading to a heartwarming and widely shared encounter that quickly captured attention online.

Biles, widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts ever, discussed her ongoing support for Malinin after his challenging performance in the men’s free skate at the recent Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. She explained that she had reached out to him privately right after the event.

“Yeah, I’ve definitely had a chance to bump into him. I’ve sent him messages on Instagram as well. Obviously, it’s all been private because I know exactly what he’s going through. I know most athletes might not be able to relate, and it’s really, really hard to watch, but he’s still an absolute legend,” Biles said.

“I see him coming out on top after this, and we’re all just cheering for him.”

The interaction highlighted the empathy between elite athletes who understand the intense pressures of competition at the highest level. Biles drew from her own past experiences with mental and physical challenges during major events to connect with what Malinin endured.

Malinin, nicknamed the “Quad God” for his groundbreaking quadruple jumps, had entered the Olympics as a strong favorite following an impressive short program. However, his free skate turned into a difficult outing, marked by multiple errors including two falls, which dropped him to eighth place overall.

During his segment on the show, Malinin reflected candidly on the factors that contributed to the setback. He acknowledged the overwhelming scrutiny and expectations that came with being in the spotlight.

“So I think that might be one of the mistakes I made going into that free skate was I was not ready to handle that to a full extent,” he continued. “So I think looking back at that, I know that now I’ll be able to kind of understand how that feels, so that way I can take a different approach leading up to the next Games, hopefully.”

The figure skater expressed optimism about using the experience as motivation moving forward, particularly with his sights set on redemption at the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps.

The two stars’ time on the “Today Show” overlapped briefly, allowing them to meet in person once more. They shared a warm hug—Biles standing on her tiptoes to reach the taller Malinin—and snapped a few photos together, creating a memorable visual of camaraderie between summer and winter sports icons.

Their conversation turned playful as they floated the idea of cross-training in each other’s disciplines.

“Teach me a thing or two,” Biles called out to Malinin, who replied, “Teach me a double full!”

Biles responded, “Teach me a quad!”

Social media users reacted enthusiastically to the exchange, with many praising the mutual respect and lighthearted energy between the two Team USA representatives. Comments flooded in celebrating the wholesome moment and the inspiration it provided.

Malinin is set to return to competition soon, competing at the World Championships next month, where he will aim to rebuild momentum after the Olympic disappointment.

The brief but meaningful crossover between Biles and Malinin served as a reminder of the shared resilience required in elite sports, transcending the boundaries of gymnastics and figure skating.

Fans appreciated seeing such positivity emerge from a tough Olympic cycle, reinforcing the supportive spirit within the American athletic community.