Olympic Gold Medalist Ilia Malinin Shares Surprising Advice for Overcoming Adversity

Ilia Malinin knows a thing or two about adversity. Few have succeeded so spectacularly - and failed so spectacularly - and then succeeded again on such a large stage and with such high hopes.

In an interview with Men's Journal, the "Quad God" explained the wisdom he has learned. "You learn more from losing than winning," he shared. "Really having an open mind." He said that elite athletes need to remember that they are human beings, and aren't "robots," despite the miraculous ways they push their bodies on the ice. He said people should "bounce back" and just "keep going" when they face adversity.

He said that's how he skates on the ice, and it's what helps him "get a good mentality." Malinin has also found an unexpected refuge from stress and pressure, though, and that might surprise some people: Cats. He has two, named Mysti and Miu miu. In fact, he attributes adopting more of a "cat personality" for his successes on the ice and overcoming mental pressure.

Malinin returned from winning an Olympic team gold but also a disappointing individual performance to win the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague. People called the third straight title win "a remarkable comeback."

Malinin is teaming up with Sheba on a new program called "ignored to adored." The cat food brand's website says, "You could be adored by everyone and still completely ignored by your cat. Feed your cat SHEBA and win them over in 12 days or your money back." Malinin said he decided to join with Sheba because cats "help me feel better, and they help me skate better." The cats helped him forget about any "bad thoughts" and calm him down, so he was able to come back mentally, he revealed.

"If you feel good, everyone else will believe it," he added. "You have to be unique, be your own self, be different from everyone else."

Ilia Malinin Revealed That His Cats 'Ignored Me' Despite His Gold Medal

Malinin told Men's Journal that his cats keep things in perspective. "My mom took a picture with my cat with a medal around it," he shared, but when he went home, the cat "ignored me the same as she always did."

He said that he considers cats "more special," and his pets help him skate better because they "calm my energy." He tries to have a "cat personality" on ice, said Malinin. How would he describe a cat personality? "Not caring so much. Really just letting yourself embrace every moment."

He is looking forward to "more competitions, more ice skating." He said he wants to start a cat cafe. "I would say that it's mainly just realizing that you are human as well," he suggested for people dealing with mental health challenges. He said people shouldn't realize that they can handle everything. "Even if it sounds selfish, you should put yourself first much of the time." He said people need to "respect yourself."

"It's okay to feel this way because you're human," he added.

Added Malinin: "Certain things" can happen where you have "no control over it," but you have to "bounce back."

"Something I've learned is to kind of handle things slowly," he said, adding that he tries to "learn to handle the pressure with so many eyes on you."

As for athletes' mental health, he added, "It's mainly just realizing you are human as well. You don't have to put so much expectation and pressure on you." He said that thinking, "'I can handle everything,' can bring you down. Even if it sounds selfish, put yourself first. Defend your own personal space and boundaries, and realize that it's okay to feel like this. You're human."

He added, "People assume athletes are like a robot."

Ilia Malinin Said He Received a Lot of 'Love & Support'

After the Olympics, Malinin said, he had a "refreshing" amount of "love and support."

"I want to symbolize resilience and bravery," he said. "I am not a quitter. I never was."

He is learning not to let the little things get inside his head. And he claims adopting the "cat personality" is a part of that. Malinin added that he prefers cats over dogs because studies show that cats are "more independent."

He said it felt like a relief to end the season with success. His Olympic fame has been a "drastic change," even going to the store or local skating rink, where he is often recognized. But the reaction is very supportive and positive. People tell him they "appreciate what you do for the country."

Elite skating is "really hard. It takes a lot of time."

"What I've learned to handle is slowly learning to handle the pressure. Realizing there are so many eyes on you," added Malinin. He said he learned to stick to believing "that you have to be unique, you have to be your own self" and then other people will believe it. He tries to be "different from everyone else" when he's on the ice. "It helps me get a good mentality."

However, he noted: "My cats still kind of ignore me."

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