(Video) American Figure Skater Ilia Malinin’s Stunning Backflip at Winter Olympics Leaves Novak Djokovic Completely Awestruck

Novak Djokovic won his career's first Olympic gold medal in 2024 by defeating Carlos Alcaraz.

(Video) American Figure Skater Ilia Malinin’s Stunning Backflip at Winter Olympics Leaves Novak Djokovic Completely Awestruck

Ilia Malinin, Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Danny)

In Short
  • Novak Djokovic was left in awe after witnessing Ilia Malinin's backflip performance at the Winter Olympics.
  • Ilia Malinin, a 21-year-old American figure skater, won the gold medal at the event.
  • Djokovic hinted at possible retirement after his recent Australian Open defeat, expressing uncertainty about his future.

Just a few days after another Australian Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic attended the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics along with his wife, Jelena Djokovic. And what he saw there left him in complete awe.

He sat at ice level and couldn’t believe his eyes when 21-year-old American figure skater Ilia Malinin, who later won the gold medal, performed a backflip. A stunned Djokovic left his seat before he sat with his hands over his head, looking wholly amazed.

I did see Novak. It’s so unreal. I heard that after I landed my backflip, he was like, he had his hands over his head. That’s incredible. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment. I’m absolutely blown away.

Ilia Malinin said after the event (H/T: TNT Sports)

Djokovic is no stranger to the emotions athletes feel upon winning an Olympic gold medal. After four failed attempts, he finally prevailed at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a straight-set win over Alcaraz.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion wishes to play at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and hang up his racket. Djokovic, however, also dropped retirement hints after his Australian Open final defeat to the Spaniard, saying twice that he didn’t know what the future holds for him, that he may not return to Melbourne as a player next year.

Toni Nadal calls Alexander Zverev a better player than Novak Djokovic

Before the Carlos Alcaraz versus Novak Djokovic Australian Open final, the former knocked out Alexander Zverev, while the 38-year-old battled past two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. After losing the first two sets, Zverev bounced back and also capitalized on Alcaraz’s physical discomfort as the World No.1 suffered cramps in the middle of the match.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Lacoste)

But despite having the momentum on his side, the German eventually lost the match in five hours and 27 minutes, also the longest semifinal in the history of the tournament. Rafael Nadal‘s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, analyzed the match and said Zverev is playing tennis better than Djokovic.

Zverev, yes, I said it, I don’t know if you remember. I said, ‘Well, if Zverev plays well. But Zverev has a mental problem. He has an obsession with winning. Zverev had the match; he had the chance to win the second set, and when he served to win, he got broken. And his best shot is his serve. He comes back to win the match in the fifth, when he serves to close out the match, and again, fails at that moment.

Toni Nadal told Radio Estadio

The win over Djokovic made Alcaraz the youngest man in the Open Era to win seven Grand Slam titles. Zverev will continue his hunt for his career’s first Major at the French Open. Djokovic played his first Major final since the 2024 Wimbledon.

So he’s dangerous rival and, for me, he’s clearly better than Djokovic is today, but he lacks the… if he, if Zverev had won that match today, he probably would have won the final too. It would change him because it gives you extra confidence and takes away the pressure he has to win a Grand Slam.

Toni Nadal added

Both Zverev and Alcaraz withdrew from the ongoing Rotterdam Open. The seven-time Grand Slam champion won his career’s first indoor hardcourt trophy last year by defeating Alex de Minaur.

Alcaraz will next be competing at the Qatar Open, where last year Jiri Lehecka knocked him out in three sets in the quarterfinals. Djokovic’s name is also on the entry list for the Doha event, which is scheduled to start on February 16. Nole lost to Matteo Berrettini in the opening round last year.

Also read: Elena Rybakina Aims to Keep the Momentum Going in Doha After Australian Open Victory