Ilia Malinin had one of his most clutch performances of his career in Sunday’s Olympic figure skating team competition.
Malinin secured gold for the United States by winning the final men’s free skate with a 200.03-point performance. Facing a tie with Japan, Malinin, a Vienna, Virginia native, landed five quad jumps, including in combinations, to beat Japan’s Shun Sato and seal a 69-68 win. The victory marked the USA’s second consecutive Olympic gold in the event.
After Malinin learned of his winning score and celebrated with the other US figure skaters, the Quad God received a hug from a man wearing a Washington Capitals hat and a puffy blue coat.
The excited gentleman was Malinin’s agent, Ari Zakarian. Zakarian, a dual citizen of the USA and Russia, is a former skater who has worked as a commentator for ESPN and USA Network. Previously, he represented Russian figure skater, Olympic champion Evgeny Plushenko.
“Ovi is my friend, and they are both from Washington,” Zakarian said to RMNB of his hat tribute from Milan. “That represents the USA for me and a little sign of Ovi as support.”
Not only was Zakarian showing support to Alex Ovechkin through the hat, but his client, Malinin, is rocking Ovechkin’s yellow skate laces during his time at the Olympics. Ovechkin gifted them to Malinin before the games began.
Malinin is a Capitals fan, and Ovechkin has gifted him a Capitals jersey in the past.
“It’s honestly, I’m in disbelief,” Malinin said to NBC 4 Washington’s Jummy Olabanji. “It’s just a gift from him. And, you know, he’s supporting me and wishing you good luck in these Olympics. And it’s just really nice to have someone at that, you know, status being just supportive of me and coming from, you know, that DC, Virginia area. It’s such an honor. And I’m so grateful for his support.”
Malinin will now turn his attention to the men’s individual figure skating events, which are scheduled for Tuesday, February 10 (Short Program) and Friday, February 13 (Free Skate) in Milan.
S/T to Emme Porter.
