Katarina Witt on Ilya Marinin’s pressure: ‘He’s only human’
On Milan Magic, Katarina Witt talks about Ilia Marin’s last performance and the pressures that come with performing on the Olympic stage.
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MILAN — This time there was only Malin’s magic.
Let me tell you, this was just an exhibition, not a competition for medals or heritage. But Ilia Marin accomplished it. Like only an ice skating showman can do.
Two quads.
back flip.
Ballet artistry and street credibility.
After her four-minute routine, the crowd at the ice skating exhibition gala cheered for Marinin.
“This message, this program, this song really resonated with me. It really expressed how I was feeling this past year leading up to the Olympics,” Marinin said. “So much pressure, so much doubt and everything around me and the noise of the media… It was so overwhelming.”
Watch Olympic figure skating at Peacock
During the on-ice celebration, there was a touch of sadness at witnessing Malinin’s immense talent and artistry just days after he qualified for the event, finishing eighth in the free stakes in the men’s individual event.
“No matter what happened, I’m still very grateful to be here and I want to show the world that we are human too,” he said.
During his performance at the exhibition, he exuded confidence. The self-proclaimed “quadruple god” jumped into the air with his signature quadruple spin. Not once, but twice, followed by a magical backflip.
He was also wearing some clothes. He is wearing a dark-colored hoodie. She wears dark-colored pants that appear to be painted white on the front and back.
He glided across the ice, shaking his sandy blonde mane. Truly, it was a moment that reminded us just how much skill this 21-year-old American has and what we’ll see in 2030 when she next skates on the Olympic stage.
