Team USA’s Ilia Malinin entered Friday as a massive -10000 favorite to win gold in the men’s free skate event.
However, the 21-year-old fell twice during his routine and failed to land multiple planned quad jumps, shockingly finishing in eight place after many believed he would easily walk away with Olympic gold.
Malinin seemingly blamed his lack of Olympic experience on his disappointing showing on Friday in a hot-mic moment that was caught on camera.
“Beijing, I would not have skated like that,” Malinin was heard saying, according to USA Today, referencing him not making the Olympic team during the 2022 Games despite a second-place finish in the World Championships that year.
And while most Americans were disappointed Malinin fell short in his quest for gold, his father Roman Skorniakov took the news pretty hard as well.
In fact, a photo of Skorniakov and Malinin went viral after the event in which Skorniakov is seen visibly upset at his son’s Olympic meltdown. Fans on social media immediately hit the comment section, ripping into Skorniakov for seemingly berating his son instead of consoling him after he crumpled under the high expectations.
“A disqualifying image of what it means to be a father. He should hug him, support him and not create frustration and feelings of inadequacy in his son. This kid makes me feel sorry for him,” another fan agreed.
“Always seen as a horrible thing to have your own parents as coaches. In competition, they see you as an athlete, a project. They don’t think that behind the athlete there’s a person with emotions. What’s more, in Ilia’s situation, behind the athlete is your son,” a third fan replied.
“The only thing that comes to mind is one thing: poor kid. I didn’t see any consolation at all as soon as he got out of the track,” one user scoffed.
“You’re my dad before you’re my coach, there’s no way you should be acting like this 😭😭😭,” remarked another user.
