2026 Winter Olympics Figure Skating: How to Watch the Men’s Medal Round and the ‘Quad God’ Malinin

One of the most discussed moments of these Games has been the inclusion of the backflip in competitive routines. Long considered the "forbidden fruit" of figure skating, the move was originally banned in 1976 for being too dangerous for a sport judged on "artistic" merit. It became iconic in 1998 when French skater Surya Bonaly performed it at the Nagano Games as a defiant "one-footed" protest against restrictive judging, knowing she would be penalized. Fast forward to 2024, the International Skating Union (ISU) officially legalized the move, arguing it adds "spectacle" to the sport. Ilia Malinin has embraced this change, making history earlier this week by landing the first legal Olympic backflip during the team event to help secure gold for Team USA.

The Race for Gold: Malinin vs. The World

While the backflip draws the gasps, the gold will be won on technical points. Ilia Malinin currently holds a five-point cushion over Beijing silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama, who sits in second with 103.07 points. France’s Adam Siao Him Fa, another vocal advocate for the backflip's return, is in third with 102.55. Malinin’s technical ceiling is much higher than his rivals; he is the only person to have ever landed the quadruple Axel in competition. Fans are waiting with bated breath to see if he will attempt this historic four-and-a-half-revolution jump in today’s long program to put the gold medal out of reach once and for all.

How to Watch Olympic Men’s Free Skating? Schedule and Broadcast

The Men’s Single Skating – Free Skating event is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT) on Friday, February 13. In the United States, coverage is split across platforms to ensure fans don't miss a single rotation. USA Network will broadcast the early groups starting at 1:00 p.m. ET, while the final, highest-seeded groups (including Malinin and Kagiyama) will air on NBC beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET. For cord-cutters, Peacock remains the primary streaming home, providing live coverage of every skater, along with specialized "Rinkside Live" feeds that offer alternate camera angles and vertical viewing options for mobile users.


Also Read: Winter Olympics 2026 Medals: Which countries are leading, where India stands, and top athletes with most medals

India’s Current Olympic Standings and Upcoming Schedule

As of February 13, 2026, India remains a participant in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics with a small but dedicated two-man contingent. India has not yet secured a medal, which is expected given the extreme competition in winter disciplines, but the focus remains on personal bests and historic finishes. Today is a massive day for the Indian camp as cross-country skier Stanzin Lundup is scheduled to compete in the Men’s 10km Interval Start Freestyle at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time (3:15 p.m. IST) at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium. Following this, India's most experienced winter Olympian, Arif Khan, will prepare for his specialized Slalom event on February 16, where he hopes to improve upon his 45th-place finish from the Beijing Games.

Where to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics in India

For fans in India looking to catch the live action, Viacom18 holds the official broadcasting rights for the Milano Cortina Games. You can watch the events live on the Sports18 television channels, which provide selected coverage of major medal events and Indian participation. For digital streaming, the games are available on the JioCinema (or recently integrated JioHotstar) app and website, offering a more comprehensive list of feeds for various sports like figure skating and alpine skiing. Additionally, select live streams and highlights, including Arif Khan’s upcoming slalom race, may be accessible through the official Olympics.com website for Indian viewers.