Watch Ilia Malinin's moving final skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Ilia Malinin returned to Olympic ice a week after the disastrous free-skate performance that prompted him to share how immense pressure to succeed took a toll on his mental health.
Wearing a hoodie and jeans, the 21-year-old's performance to NF's "Fear" at the traditional Olympic figure skating exhibition gala was a bittersweet ending to Malinin's run at the 2026 Winter Olympics and reinforced his struggle to ignore media attention leading up to the competition.
"This message and this program and song is something that really spoke to me. It really represented how I’ve been feeling the last year leading up to these Olympics," Malinin said, as reported by USA TODAY's Josh Peter. "There’s been so much pressure, so much doubt and everything around me, the noise with the media….It’s been so overwhelming."
Malinin, favored to win the gold medal in men's figure skating, struggled through the free skate and ended up in eighth place. After speaking out about how media attention contributed to him buckling under pressure, Malinin hinted at the theme of his exhibition performance on Instagram earlier this week.
Nebraska Beats Texas A&M 8-2 for 3rd Win
Coming off run-rule victories against South Carolina and Hawaii on Friday, Nebraska continued their strong weekend performance with an 8-2 win over the ranked Aggies. The Huskers scored their first run in the third inning after Lauren Camenzind reached base on a fielding error, followed by an RBI single from Jordy Frahm.
Hannah Camenzind and Ava Kuszak each added doubles to extend Nebraska's lead, ultimately securing the victory for the team playing on modified slow pitch softball fields with makeshift walls. The win improves Nebraska's weekend record to 3-0 while Texas A&M falls to 9-5.
NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore dies at 25
NEW ALBANY, Ind. — NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore, who played most recently for the Minnesota Vikings, was found dead Saturday night in Indiana, authorities said. He was 25.
Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin did not share additional details on the circumstances of Moore’s death but said there was no threat to the public and an autopsy would be conducted on Sunday.
Moore, a receiver and return specialist drafted in the second round out of Purdue University, spent his first three years in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2024, he dislocated his right knee during training camp with the Atlanta Falcons, and he never played for them.
Moore attempted to make a comeback with Minnesota in 2025 but was injured while returning a punt in the first exhibition game.
University of Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm, who coached Moore at Purdue, called him an “ultimate competitor who wouldn’t back down” from a challenge.
“We all loved Rondale; we loved his smile and his competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact with,” Brohm said in a statement.
Josh Morrissey Absent from Canada's Olympic Final
The absence of Josh Morrissey from Team Canada's lineup in the Olympic gold medal game is described as a real bummer by observers.