Extra: What We Can All Learn from The Quad God's Tumble
Ilya Malinin, the American figure skater known as “The Quad God” for his ability to incorporate quadruple jumps into his routines, had an especially unlucky Friday the 13th. Some might even call it disastrous. The 21-year-old fell twice during his final skate and finished eighth in the free skate at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. While I am far from a rabid sports fan , I was inspired by Malinin—his vibe, artistry, and yes, his athleticism. When I started watching him skate, I had no idea what lay ahead. Back in the day, “ABC’s Wide World of Sports” aired every Saturday afternoon. Its dramatic intro promised to showcase “the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.” It is hard to imagine a more agonizing defeat than the one Malinin suffered yesterday. He struggled to articulate his feelings amid the media’s questions, but when pressed, he admitted, “I blew it.” But that’s not the whole story. After his stunning defeat, Malinin picked himself up and went to hug and cong...
