Ilia Malinin at Center of Post-Olympic Cheating Scandal Amid Viral Video
American figure skater Ilia Malinin finds himself in the eye of a social media storm just days after the conclusion of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Instead of discussions focusing on his eighth-place finish in the men's singles event, the online conversation has shifted dramatically to unverified allegations of infidelity, with retired American skater Gracie Gold prominently named in the rumors.
Viral Nightclub Video Sparks Widespread Speculation
The controversy ignited when a short video clip from a nightclub celebration, believed to be in the Olympic Village in Milan, went viral across social media platforms X and TikTok. The footage allegedly shows Ilia Malinin dancing closely with an unidentified woman during post-competition festivities. Within hours, screenshots and analyses of the video spread rapidly across figure skating fan communities and general sports forums.
Soon after the video's circulation, internet users began identifying the woman in the clip as Gracie Gold, the retired American figure skater who last competed internationally in the 2022-2023 season. The speculation gained additional traction when online commentators claimed that former Canadian skater Nam Nguyen had posted messages from a secondary X account that directly accused Gracie Gold of being unfaithful and named Ilia Malinin as involved in cheating allegations.
Important Note: There is no verified proof that the secondary account in question actually belongs to Nam Nguyen, and neither Malinin, Gold, nor Nguyen have released any official statements regarding these claims. All allegations remain completely unconfirmed at this time.Additional Skaters Dragged into the Controversy
The situation grew increasingly complex when South Korean figure skater Lee Hae-in's name entered the conversation. Some observant fans pointed to social media photos showing Ilia Malinin and Lee Hae-in visiting a cat café together in Milan during the Games. Others noted heart emoji exchanges between the two athletes on their social media platforms, which sparked fresh dating rumors circulating alongside the cheating allegations.
However, many figure skating enthusiasts quickly countered these suggestions, emphasizing that Malinin and Hae-in have maintained a public friendship for several years. In interviews conducted earlier this year, Malinin explicitly described himself as single, though this statement was made prior to the Olympic Games.
American skater Amber Glenn also became unintentionally involved in the speculation when another nightclub clip surfaced that some viewers mistakenly believed featured her. Glenn addressed the confusion directly on TikTok, clearly stating that she was not the woman in the video and noting that she was still actively competing at the time the footage was recorded. She has previously characterized her relationship with Malinin as platonic, describing him as "like a younger brother."
Intense Online Reactions and Fan Theories
The online response to these unfolding rumors has been particularly intense across social media platforms. One user summarized the convoluted speculation by writing, "So what I am getting from this is that Gracie cheated on Nam with Ilia who in turn was also two-timing Haein and a girl back home all the while." Another commenter observed, "Damn he had fun in these three weeks," while others dismissed the entire situation as "typical post-Olympics chaos."
Despite the fervent discussion, several critical facts remain unchanged:
- There is no confirmed evidence of any affair involving Ilia Malinin
- No verified relationship timeline has been established
- No official accusation has been made by any of the named skaters
- All claims originate from unverified social media sources
Performance Overshadowed by Personal Speculation
As the rumors continue to circulate online, Ilia Malinin's actual Olympic performance—where he placed eighth in a highly competitive men's singles field—has largely been overshadowed by the personal speculation. The 2026 Games marked Malinin's second Olympic appearance following his debut at Beijing 2022, where he finished ninth in the same event.
The timing of these allegations is particularly notable, emerging during what is traditionally a period of celebration and reflection following major international competitions. Figure skating has historically seen similar post-event rumors and controversies, though the viral nature of social media has amplified the current situation significantly.
For now, the skating community awaits any potential official statements from the involved parties, while the online discourse shows no signs of abating. The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly unverified information can spread in the digital age, particularly when involving high-profile athletes during major sporting events.
