Connect with us

News

Malinin, Minion and Milan’s most emotional moment

The 2026 Olympic figure skating men’s short program, held on Tuesday night, showcased a wide range of performances, spanning from remarkable to emotional and even unusual displays.

Ilia Malinin is poised to continue his strong performance in the men's competition, which resumes on Friday, after taking the lead in the short program.

The men's short program at the Olympic figure skating event on Tuesday night was a spectacle that had everything, from breathtaking moments to emotional performances and unexpected twists.

The standout performer was once again Ilia Malinin from the USA, who delivered a dazzling routine that showcased his technical skill, including a quad flip and a quad lutz, two of the most challenging elements in the sport.

Although Malinin did not successfully land the quad axel, which has earned him the nickname 'Quad God,' his overall performance was enough to secure the top spot in the short program with a score of 108.16.

In contrast to his performance in the team event, where style sometimes overshadowed substance and he made errors, Malinin's routine on Tuesday was marked by its cleanliness and precision, and he even added a backflip to his program.

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama, considered Malinin's main competitor for the top spot, trails by more than five points after a slip on his triple axel.

Kagiyama is currently in second place with a score of 103.07, followed by France's Adam Siao Him Fa, who impressed with a score of 102.55, while Italy's Daniel Grassl, the host nation's best hope for a medal, is in fourth place with 93.46.

As Malinin strives for individual Winter Olympic gold, all eyes are on him, given his undefeated streak in competition, which has lasted almost two and a half years.

Following his impressive performance in the team event free skate, where he scored over 200 points and helped the USA secure team gold on Sunday, it's difficult to bet against Malinin in this event.

Malinin's competitive spirit was evident as he entered the rink, shadowboxing for the cameras, and he brought this same energy to his performance, making a strong statement to his rivals.

The men's event will conclude on Friday evening with the free skate, where Malinin will be the last of the 24 competitors to take the ice.

This video is currently unavailable for playback.

Ilia Malinin dazzles the crowd with his performance in the men's short program.

A day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics is available for those looking to stay up-to-date with the events.

The full schedule, including the timing of medal events, can be found for planning purposes.

The current Winter Olympics 2026 medal table is available for tracking the progress of nations.

This video is currently unavailable for playback.

American figure skater Maxim Naumov competes in memory of his late parents.

It's challenging to comprehend the difficulties American skater Maxim Naumov has faced over the past year, particularly the loss of his parents in a tragic plane crash.

Just over a year ago, Naumov's parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, both former world champion pairs skaters, were among the 67 people killed in a plane crash in Washington DC, which also claimed the lives of 28 athletes, coaches, and parents connected to US figure skating.

Naumov has shared that his dream of making Team USA was one of the last things he discussed with his parents before their passing.

In an interview with the BBC after his performance, Naumov expressed his desire to make his parents proud, stating, "They are my superheroes, my role models, and my biggest support system."

Naumov reflected on his father's words, "Everything is practice until it is the Olympics," and how he felt the weight of those words as he competed, wishing to make his parents proud.

Naumov took to the ice on Tuesday, skating to Nocturne No. 20 by Frederic Chopin, and despite a slight slip on his triple axel, he composed himself and delivered a technically sound routine.

As Naumov finished his performance, he was overcome with emotion, looking up to the sky with tears in his eyes as the arena erupted in applause, and he was seen smiling and saying "thank you," possibly to both the audience and his late parents.

Naumov's performance earned him a season-best score of 85.65 points, securing his place in the top 24 and a spot in the free skate on Friday.

As the scores were announced, Naumov held up a picture of himself as a child with his late parents, a poignant moment that highlighted the emotional significance of his participation in the Olympics.

Naumov keeps this picture with him at all times, saying, "It is in my bag, so it is literally right here on my heart," and expressed his desire for his parents to be with him to share in his achievements.

He added, "They deserve to be here, to be right next to me, to look up at the scores together and say: 'Look at what we just did!'"

The BBC will provide live streams, updates on BBC Radio 5 Live, and live text commentary and video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app for those looking to follow the events.

Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate was seen wearing a Minion-themed armband as part of his distinctive look.

One of the most intriguing stories leading up to the Games was that of Sabate, who has been performing to Minions songs while wearing a yellow T-shirt and blue overalls, reminiscent of the characters' outfits.

However, due to a copyright issue, it seemed that Sabate might have to alter his routine for the Olympics, which had been a major part of his performances throughout the 2025-26 season.

After days of negotiations and public support, the issues were resolved, and Sabate was able to perform to his preferred music.

Unfortunately, Sabate's performance was marred by technical errors, starting with a trip on his first element, and despite his unique style, he was unable to recover.

Sabate's score of 69.80 was not enough to advance him to the next round, and he finished in 25th place.

Despite the disappointment, Sabate showed his appreciation for the support he received, bowing to all four sides of the audience as he exited the stage, leaving a lasting impression on the crowd.

Ultimately there were too many technical errors, and a score of 69.80 was not enough to take him through as he finished in 25th place.

But Sabate, who has been keen to thank all those who took up his cause to allow his music at the Games, bowed with gusto to all four sides as one of Milan-Cortina's most memorable characters exited the stage.

This video can not be played

Chaos erupted on the Olympic skating rink, courtesy of the mischievous Minions.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

GB’s Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarterfinals

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain was knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain has been knocked out of the women's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stage.

For more Winter Olympics coverage, videos are available to stream.

Access to Winter Olympics video content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.

Continue Reading

News

Family of Murder Victim Expresses Frustration Over Delayed Trial Scheduling

A 21-year-old woman, Chloe Mitchell, lost her life in June 2023, and a man is set to stand trial, facing a murder charge.

The family of Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old woman from Ballymena, is facing further uncertainty as they await the outcome of a trial for her alleged murderer, which may be impacted by an ongoing barristers' strike.

A close-up photo of Chloe Mitchell - a young woman with long, straight, fair hair -  smiling at the camera. She is wearing black-framed sunglasses with blue lenses on her head, which are partially visible.
Chloe Mitchell's remains were found eight days after she went missing in 2023

Chloe Mitchell's life was cut short in June 2023, when she was killed in an incident that has left her family and community in shock.

Brandon John Rainey, the man accused of her murder, is scheduled to stand trial on February 23, but the proceedings may be delayed due to the industrial action by defence barristers.

Following a recent court hearing to review trial arrangements, Nadine Mitchell, Chloe's sister, expressed her family's distress and frustration, telling BBC News NI that they are struggling to cope with the uncertainty.

Nadine Mitchell stated that her family has been left with no choice but to wait once again for a resolution, having already endured a prolonged period of anxiety and uncertainty.

The family's emotional turmoil is evident, with Nadine describing the experience as a prolonged period of distress, marked by sleepless nights and unbearable tension.

The Mitchell family is struggling to come to terms with their situation, which has left them feeling overwhelmed and distraught.

The current strike by defence barristers in Northern Ireland, which began last month, is a result of a long-standing dispute over legal aid fees, with barristers arguing that their fees have not kept pace with inflation.

The strike has brought almost all criminal trials in Northern Ireland to a standstill, with the exception of cases where the defendant does not require legal aid.

The Mitchell family has appealed for their case to be treated as an exception, allowing the trial to proceed as scheduled.

Chloe Mitchell, who was 21 at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing in early June 2023, prompting an extensive search operation.

Her remains were discovered about a week later, following a series of searches in the Ballymena area.

Brandon John Rainey was subsequently arrested and charged with Chloe's murder, which is alleged to have taken place between June 2 and June 5, 2023.

Rainey also faces a charge of attempting to prevent the lawful burial of a deceased body.

The dispute between barristers and the Department of Justice centres on the level of legal aid fees, which barristers claim have not increased since 2005.

A close-up of Brandon Rainey, a man with short, fair hair and stubble, looking at the camera.  He is sitting in a vehicle on a dark, wet night.
Brandon Rainey is accused of the murder of Chloe Mitchell

Barristers argue that the fees have not kept pace with inflation, resulting in a significant decrease in their real-terms value over the past 20 years.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has warned that the low fees have created a crisis in the justice system, with many younger barristers refusing to take on legal aid cases due to the low rates of pay.

The CBA has described the strike as a "last resort" in their dispute with the Department of Justice, which has been ongoing for some time.

Despite an announced 16% increase in fees, which is set to take effect in mid-January, the strike has continued, with barristers arguing that the increase does not go far enough to address their concerns.

Chloe's father, George Mitchell, has previously appealed for an exception to be made in their case, allowing the trial to proceed despite the strike.

George Mitchell has argued that any delay to the trial would cause further trauma and distress for the families of victims.

He had invited Justice Minister Naomi Long to meet with him and his wife, Georgina, to discuss the matter further.

However, Minister Long has stated that it is not feasible to allow individual cases to proceed while the dispute over legal aid fees remains unresolved, citing ethical and practical concerns.

The minister has reiterated that the decision to grant exceptions lies with the CBA, which must weigh the competing demands of their members and the needs of the justice system.

Continue Reading

News

Keanu Reeves’ John Wick Video Game Revealed at PlayStation Event

The iconic hitman has made previous appearances in games, however, the version developed by Saber will mark the first instance where the character is voiced by Reeves.

A video game adaptation of the John Wick franchise, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, is in development, with Keanu Reeves set to lend his likeness and voice to the project.

An in game screenshot of a video game version of Keanu Reeves as the character John Wick. He is wearing a suit and looking at the camera.

The game, currently titled "Untitled John Wick Game", is being developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, in collaboration with Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick film series.

A trailer for the game, expected to serve as a prequel to the film series, was unveiled during PlayStation's "State of Play" event on Thursday.

The event also featured announcements for remakes of several major game franchises, including the God of War trilogy, as well as a special 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman.

The John Wick film series, which has earned over $1 billion globally, follows the story of a retired assassin, played by Keanu Reeves, as he seeks vengeance in a world of high-stakes action.

Although the character of John Wick has appeared in games before, this will be the first time Keanu Reeves has provided his voice for the role.

Reeves has previous experience in the gaming industry, having played a key role in the hit game Cyberpunk 2077 as the character Johnny Silverhand.

According to Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, the development team is "honored" to be working with Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves to bring the John Wick universe to life in a AAA game.

The game's story will be an original narrative designed for mature audiences, featuring a mix of familiar characters from the film series and new ones.

Jenefer Brown, president of global products at Lionsgate, the producer of the John Wick films, expressed the company's goal of capturing the "intense action" and "distinctive fight choreography" that define the franchise.

The reaction to the game's announcement has been largely positive among fans on social media.

However, some fans have expressed concerns about the potential impact on Saber Interactive's other projects, including the long-awaited remake of the classic Star Wars game Knights of the Old Republic.

Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief of The Game Business, believes that the John Wick game is a strong fit for Saber Interactive, given the studio's experience with action-oriented IPs and its ability to release multiple games across various genres.

Dring notes that Saber Interactive operates as a collective of studios working on multiple IPs, allowing it to release a diverse range of games annually.

During the same event, Sony announced that Santa Monica Studios is working on remakes of the first three God of War games, building on one of the platform's most successful franchises.

An in-game screenshot of Silent Hill Townfall. We see the back of a man who is looking at a sign that says "Welcome to St. Amelia".
Konami's trailer for Silent Hill Townfall revealed it is set in St Amelia, a "fictional island inspired by Scotland"

Although a release date for the God of War remakes was not provided, Sony did announce a surprise side-scrolling prequel game, Sons of Sparta, which is available now.

The event also offered a first look at Townfall, the latest installment in the Silent Hill series, set on the fictional island of St. Amelia, which draws inspiration from Scotland.

A 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman was also announced, featuring five versions of the 1995 game, along with a near-immediate release.

Loic Gounon, brand producer for the Rayman games, discussed the anniversary edition with the BBC, highlighting the inclusion of a new documentary that explores the making of the original game, as well as accessibility features designed to enhance the experience for modern players.

To stay up-to-date on the latest tech news and trends, sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter; international readers can subscribe via an alternative link.

A green promotional banner with black squares and rectangles forming pixels, moving in from the right. The text says: “Tech Decoded: The world’s biggest tech news in your inbox every Monday.”
Continue Reading

Trending