Friday night brought an unexpected guest to the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Simone Biles, gymnastics royalty with seven Olympic golds and 11 total medals to her name, settled into her seat alongside husband Jonathan Owens for a different kind of Olympic experience.
The pair watched men’s figure skating unfold on the ice below, where America’s Ilia Malinin, the only skater in history to land a quadruple Axel, endured a stunning eighth-place finish after falling twice and struggling through his free skate.
Biles rose to her feet more than once, applauding as the “Quad God” battled through a difficult night. She also recorded portions of his routine and later shared the footage with her followers on Instagram.
The 28-year-old has competed at three Olympic Games – Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 – but the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 mark her first experience attending strictly as a spectator.
That change in role became evident when the arena emcee noticed her during a break in the competition and featured her on the big screen for a brief, impromptu interview.
“I think the difference is the weather and the temperature. I’m used to hot and this is very cool,” she said. “So, I wish the athletes the absolute best and to stay chill.”
Her comment prompted laughter from the crowd.
The journey to Italy, however, was not without hiccups. Earlier in the day, Biles revealed on Instagram Stories that she and Owens had been delayed in Germany en route to Milan, passing the time with food and drinks while awaiting their connection.
Two sports, one language of flight
Despite competing in different disciplines, Biles recognizes similarities between her craft and that of elite figure skaters.
She remains the only gymnast capable of performing the Yurchenko double pike in international competition. Meanwhile, Malinin stands alone as the skater to successfully land the quad Axel in sanctioned events.
Both skills demand extraordinary air awareness, rotational speed and technical precision. Years of preparation hinge on mere seconds in motion – and the margin for error is razor thin.
“I would never do it on ice, so I give them all the props,” she said. “I am rooting for them, I’m praying for them and I’m just super exiting to cheer for them.”
There is even shared tradition between the two sports. The “Kiss and Cry,” the designated area where athletes wait anxiously for their scores while cameras capture every reaction, began in figure skating before gymnastics adopted the format.
“We’re not huge fans of it, but we’re so used to it,” Biles said. “Gymnastics adopted it.”
The competition itself produced unexpected results. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov secured gold in the men’s singles event. Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama claimed silver, while fellow Japanese skater Shun Sato earned bronze.
For Biles, the night offered a rare opportunity: to witness Olympic pressure from the stands rather than the floor. And even out of competition, the most decorated gymnast of her generation found herself speaking the universal language of elite sport – one built on courage, flight and resilience.
