In a surprising break from Olympic tradition, Ilia Malinin is set to take the ice in the exhibition gala despite missing the podium—a move already stirring intense reactions across the skating world. Known as the “Quad God,” Malinin’s inclusion is reigniting debates about performance, reputation, and the emotional weight of the Games. Fans are divided between celebration and controversy, turning what should be a routine gala announcement into one of the most talked-about decisions of the Milano Cortina 2026. For some, it’s a powerful show of support; for others, it’s a shocking break from tradition that’s changing the tone of the event.

Even though Ilia Malinin did not win a medal in the men’s Olympic figure skating competition, he will perform in the popular skating gala, the last of the Olympic figure skating events, on Saturday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Malinin also has decided to compete at the 2026 world championships next month in Prague, where he will defend his world title, the person said.

It is almost unheard of for an eighth-place skater in any of the four Olympic disciplines to be invited to skate in the closing gala, a show-style exhibition in which skaters are not judged and are simply performing for the audience. Usually only the Olympic medalists perform, with the occasional fourth-place finisher or skater from the host nation included.

But Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” is so popular in the sport that organizers decided to include him despite his poor performance in the men’s long program Friday night, in which he fell twice and made mistakes on other jumps to finish a devastating eighth. It was the worst performance by a gold-medal favorite in Olympic figure skating history.

Malinin, 21, has won the last four U.S. championships and the past two world championships, and will be favored to win a third in Prague despite not winning a medal in Milan.