MILAN — On a night free from judges’ marks and medal pressure, more than 40 of the world’s best figure skaters returned to the ice for one final celebration at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The exhibition gala, a long-standing Olympic tradition, offered something competition cannot: joy without consequence.
For Alysa Liu, it was a cherished encore — one last glide across the same Olympic ice where she captured two gold medals and completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory.
For Ilia Malinin, it was a chance to rewrite the emotional ending of his Games.
A Night of Celebration
Inside a festive Milano Ice Skating Arena, the gala unfolded in four acts, blending artistry, personality, and tribute.
The evening opened with Italian skating legend Carolina Kostner, who performed a poetic duet alongside a 3D projection tracing the journey of an athlete — from tentative first steps to the moment talent and identity merge as one.
Then came the competitors themselves. Freed from the structure of their Olympic programs, skaters embraced music that ranged from classical compositions to rock anthems and cinematic scores. It was a reminder that figure skating is as much performance art as it is sport.
Expression Over Expectation
Amber Glenn skated to “That’s Life,” a fitting soundtrack after helping the United States defend its team gold and rebounding from individual disappointment with resilience.
Malinin chose “FEAR” by NF — a pointed and personal selection. The 21-year-old had entered the Games as a heavy favorite for men’s gold, only to falter in the free skate after a brilliant short program. The pressure, he later admitted, had weighed heavily.
Yet even in defeat, he earned admiration for his composure — congratulating champion Mikhail Shaidorov and candidly addressing his performance. In the gala, his skating carried a different energy: powerful, reflective, unburdened.
“Even with that skate,” Malinin said of the competition, “the crowd never stopped cheering. That’s what makes this sport special — you’re not only an athlete, you’re also an artist.”
A Golden Farewell
As tradition dictates, the gold medalists performed last.
And Liu closed the night.
The 20-year-old Californian, who stepped away from skating after the 2022 Games due to burnout, returned on her own terms — choosing her music, shaping her programs, embracing her individuality. Her comeback culminated in the first Olympic gold for an American woman since 2002.
Taking the ice one final time in Milan, Liu skated with visible ease — not chasing history now, but savoring it.
“I am just doing me,” she said during the Games, a philosophy that defined her journey as much as any jump or spin.
One Last Curtain Call
The gala’s final act brought all athletes back onto the ice together for a choreographed farewell — a collective bow to weeks of pressure, passion, and performance.
There were no scores to announce. No medals to distribute.
Just applause echoing through the arena, blades carving soft arcs into Olympic ice for the final time.
For Liu, it was a golden goodbye to Milan.
For Malinin, a statement of resilience.
For the sport itself, a reminder that beyond the podium lies something equally powerful — expression, community, and the simple love of the glide.
