If you’re on the hunt for a new TV drama besides “The Pit,” you should definitely check out “The Rink.”
This week’s men’s figure skating event at the Winter Olympics delivered more drama than any series could muster.
The most shocking moment? It had to be American skater Ilia Marin finishing in eighth place after the free skate on Friday. It felt like a “red wedding” from Game of Thrones—just brutal on the ice.
Honestly, his fall from grace was almost more intense than that fictional tragedy.
Commentators Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski were left speechless by Marin’s unexpected performance. Just two days earlier, he’d dazzled everyone in the short program.
When he stumbled after his final jump, all Lipinski could manage was a shocked, “Oh my god.” In those agonizing moments, it was like he barely held on to anything.
Add to this some interesting drama around Marin’s self-given nickname. He dubbed himself the “God of Quadruples,” supposedly referencing his knack for landing those challenging quadruple jumps.
But seriously, calling yourself “God”? That’s quite a claim, especially when many viewers were just getting to know him—and he ends up in eighth place.
In a surprising twist, Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shadorov clinched the gold, rising from fifth place by Friday night. This was a historic win, as his country had never achieved gold in men’s figure skating.
Interestingly, some foresight may have been present during Shadorov’s short program, where he skated to music from Hans Zimmer, embodying Dune’s Paul Atreides. That gave his performance a bit of a prophetic touch.
“Right now he’s planting the seeds for the next Olympics,” Lipinski remarked as she watched the free skate unfold.
But don’t rush to conclusions.
After about 30 minutes, Marin was understandably downcast, as viewers shouted his nickname in vain.
On a lighter note, Spain’s Tomas Llorenz-Guarino Sabate brought humor to the rink. Dressed in a yellow shirt and overalls, he humorously skated to a Minions tune, which made his routine a viral sensation.
Amid the competition’s excitement, there were also deeply emotional moments.
Take American Maxim Naumov, for example. This 24-year-old skater from Connecticut honors his late parents, former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who tragically died in a plane crash last year.
Reflecting on that life-altering event, he mentioned, “Honestly, at that point, I just wanted to curl up and do nothing.” Yet, just over a year later, he was at his first Olympics, holding a cherished photo of his parents during an emotional moment.
“I did it for them too,” Naumov shared, his pride evident.
This fierce competitor finished 14th, performing a short program that wasn’t too technically advanced but still impressive.
Watching from home, the weight of his achievements felt even more significant.
“We turned our dreams into reality. And I didn’t just do it for myself; I did it for them,” he expressed to the cameras after leaving the rink.
The Olympics showcase the world’s top athletes achieving extraordinary feats.
And that’s precisely what Naumov did.
So, take a look for yourself.
