The stunning collapse by Quad God Malinin during Friday’s long program left fans and observers in total shock. The 21-year-old Ilia Malinin was a lock to win the gold medal in men’s figure skating. He was on the verge of becoming the next great skater in history.
But then, inexplicable destruction struck. Malinin fell twice, while only managing to land three of the seven quadruple jumps slated for his performance. There was no reason for this unfathomable disintegration of an elite talent just moments away from becoming anointed in Olympic lore.
As implausible as it may seem, Quad God Malinin is actually a classic case of the Yips. The Yips is a condition in which athletes are unable to perform what seem like routine tasks to them. These tasks are often ones athletes have done repeatedly, but suddenly seem unable to do.
It’s like when pitchers suddenly lose their fastball. It happens when golfers can’t land a three-foot putt to save their lives. Or it’s also apparent when a basketball player just can’t land an easy layup, no matter how hard they try.
Barring an injury or an underlying neurological condition, Quad God Malinin became a victim of performance anxiety. The pressure of competing at such a high level in the world’s most pressure-packed moment got to him.
Quad God Malinin stated that the pressure and nerves got to him. Per The Athletic:
“But, of course, it’s not like any other competition,” he said. “It’s the Olympics. And I think people only realize the pressure and the nerves that actually happen from the inside. So it was really just something that overwhelmed me. And I just felt like I had no control.”
That’s the definition of the Yips.
The Pressure Wasn’t Just a One-Time Thing
Pressure is like an iceberg. The outward expression is a minuscule portion of what happens beneath the surface. Malinin has likely had to deal with ongoing pressure since he was a boy in his early competition.
Then, earning the moniker of Quad God, Malinin added another layer of pressure that few people will ever know. Professionals like surgeons, stock brokers, dancers, and singers know just how hard it is to maintain an elite level indefinitely.
Fans couldn’t see the storm raging inside of him. But it was there, and it manifested with him crumbling in front of the entire world.
Quad God Malinin Example of Mental Health Issues in Sports
It’s easy to take mental health issues for granted in sports. Athletes consistently deal with pressure without proper coping mechanisms. That’s why a condition like the Yips requires intervention to help the athlete get back on track.
The textbook case is former MLB player Steve Sax. In the early 1980s, Sax was seemingly unable to throw a baseball, something he had done his entire life. It nearly cost him the chance to play in the Majors.
Through proper intervention, Sax regained confidence in his abilities and went on to play 1,769 games over a 14-year career.
That’s the future for Quad God Malinin. He’ll hopefully bounce back and get one more chance to etch his name in Olympic lore.
Quad God Malinin Classic Case of the Yips