Ilia Malinin performs to Fear in cathartic Olympic gala routine

Ilia Malinin skated to NF's 'Fear' during the Olympic exhibition gala, using choreography that acknowledged pressure and finishing with his signature backflip; Alysa Liu and other medalists also took part in the event.

Ilia Malinin skated in the Olympic exhibition gala on Saturday, performing a routine to 'Fear' by NF that referenced recent pressure and online criticism. The gala brought together more than 40 Olympic figure skaters to close the program and celebrate the sport. Malinin had helped the United States win team gold but struggled in his free skate and did not reach the podium in the individual event. Other medalists, including Alysa Liu, also skated in the exhibition. Key details: - Ilia Malinin, 21, had been a leading contender after the short program but struggled in his free skate and failed to make the podium. - He performed to "Fear" by NF, referenced the "inevitable crash" he mentioned in a social media post, symbolically batted away noise representing criticism, and ended with a backflip that drew strong applause. - Alysa Liu, 20, who won both team and individual gold, skated last to "Stateside" by Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress as part of the closing program. - Mikhail Shaidorov, the men's Olympic gold medallist from Kazakhstan, performed a light-hearted routine dressed as Kung-Fu Panda. - Former Olympic bronze medallist Carolina Kostner opened with a duet featuring a 3D projection about athletes' journeys, and Amber Glenn skated to "That's Life" by Lady Gaga after recovering from a major short-program mistake. Summary: The exhibition gala provided a space for skaters to perform without competitive scoring and offered moments of closure and artistic expression after the Olympic competitions. It highlighted skaters processing recent results and celebrated medalists and veterans in the sport. Undetermined at this time.