💔 BREAKING NEWS: Ilia Malinin Breaks Silence After Surgery — “I’m Fighting… But I Can’t Do It Alone”

Milano / Ann Arbor, 25 February 2026 — After weeks of speculation, medical reports and an almost complete media blackout, Ilia Malinin — the 21-year-old American phenom widely regarded as the most technically dominant men’s singles skater of his generation — has finally spoken publicly about the serious health issue that forced him to withdraw from the entire 2025–26 competitive season, including the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

In a 12-minute video posted simultaneously on his Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channels this morning (Vietnam time), Malinin appeared calm, seated in what looks like a physical therapy room with ice packs and resistance bands visible in the background. Dressed in a simple black hoodie, he spoke directly to the camera in the quiet, measured tone that has become his trademark.

“The surgery went well,” he began, addressing the procedure head-on for the first time. “They repaired the torn labrum in my right hip and cleaned up some loose cartilage. The doctors are happy with how everything healed internally. But recovery… recovery is a different beast.”

Malinin confirmed that the injury first became symptomatic in late October 2025 during training camps in Novi, Michigan. What began as “a nagging pinch” quickly escalated into sharp pain during triple Axels and quadruple combinations. An MRI in early November revealed a significant anterior labral tear — an injury notorious among skaters and hockey players for its long rehabilitation timeline.

“I tried to push through November and December,” he admitted, “because I really wanted to compete at Nationals and make the Olympic team. But every landing was like a knife. I was scared — not just of the pain, but of what it meant for my career.”

The decision to undergo arthroscopic surgery was made in mid-December 2025. Malinin flew to the renowned Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, where he was operated on by hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon, the same surgeon who treated Nathan Chen and several NHL stars. He has been in intensive rehabilitation ever since — first non-weight-bearing, then pool therapy, now progressing to on-ice stroking and very light jumps under close supervision.

The most poignant moment of the video came at the 7:45 mark.

“I’m fighting every single day,” Malinin said, his voice cracking slightly for the first time. “But I can’t do it alone. I need my coaches, my medical team, my family… and I need all of you — the fans who send messages, who make edits, who cheer even when I’m not competing. Your support is literally keeping me going when the pain makes me want to quit.”

He paused, looked directly into the lens, and added:

“I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back. The honest answer is: when my hip tells me it’s ready, not when the calendar says I should be. But I promise you this — when I return, I want to skate cleaner, stronger, and more artistically than ever before. I want to show that setbacks don’t define you… they refine you.”

The response from the figure skating community was immediate and overwhelmingly supportive.

**Nathan Chen** (three-time world champion): “Ilia, you’ve already inspired millions with your talent. Now you’re inspiring us with your courage. Heal strong, brother.”- **Yuma Kagiyama** (Olympic silver medalist): “We are waiting for you. The ice feels empty without your quads. Take all the time you need.”- Kaori Sakamoto (Olympic champion): “Your message made me cry. You are never alone. Ganbatte, Ilia-kun!”- **US Figure Skating** posted an official statement: “We stand with Ilia during his recovery. His health and long-term well-being are our top priority. The entire skating family is behind him.”

Fan reaction online has been equally emotional. Within the first three hours the video surpassed 4.2 million views and more than 380,000 comments — the majority containing variations of “We’re with you Ilia”, “Take your time king”, “You already gave us the quad Axel — now take care of yourself”.

Several prominent skating accounts compiled montages of Malinin’s historic moments — the first ratified quad Axel at Skate America 2022, the six quads in one program at Worlds 2023, the back-to-back world titles in 2024 and 2025 — set to his own words: “I’m fighting — but I can’t do it alone.” The clips have been shared hundreds of thousands of times.

Malinin also addressed the future more concretely than many expected:

– He plans to remain off the ice competitively for the entire 2026 calendar year.- Return target: “Hopefully Nationals 2027, but no promises.”- He will continue to post occasional updates — “not weekly training vlogs, but real, honest moments so you know I’m still here and still working.”- He thanked his sponsors (Nike, Red Bull, Toyota) for continued support during his absence.

The video ends with Malinin looking straight at the camera one last time:

“To every young skater watching this — if your body says stop, listen. Protect yourself first. The medals will still be there when you’re ready. Thank you for not giving up on me. I’m not giving up either.”

In an era when athletes are often criticized for being too open about mental health and physical struggles, Ilia Malinin has chosen radical transparency. Whether or not he ever regains the stratospheric technical heights that made him “Quad God”, he has already secured something far rarer in elite sport: genuine, widespread human connection.

The ice will wait. For now, the skating world waits — and cheers — for Ilia.