Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (20) intercepts a deflected pass during fourth-quarter action against the Philadelphia Eagles, with the play unfolding on Aug 24, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, as Ward tracks the tipped ball and secures the turnover late in the game. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports.
Aside from signing quarterback Kyler Murray two weeks ago, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t do much in free agency, constrained by a tight salary cap situation and needing existing players to step up in 2026. So, it’s time for the annual breakout player article, keeping tabs on the purple team four weeks before the draft.
Minnesota has young players poised for bigger roles this season.
This go-round, Minnesota has plenty of options for breakout personalities on both sides of the ball.
Advertisement
Five Vikings with a Real Chance to Level Up in 2026
Ranked in ascending order — No. 1 is the top breakout candidate — here’s the list.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton works through drills and timing sessions during rookie minicamp, getting his first on-field reps in purple and beginning his development within the offense on May 2025 at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota, as the third-round pick starts carving out a long-term role in the team’s plans. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
5. Tai Felton | WR
With Jalen Nailor, the WR3 for 2024 and 2025, now out of the picture, the Vikings opted not to sign a free agent to fill the void. Numerous options were available, with players like Hollywood Brown, Kendrick Bourne, Romeo Doubs, Mike Evans, and Christian Kirk signing elsewhere.
Minnesota passed on them all. Therefore, barring a new acquisition, the WR3 role is open. If Felton doesn’t emerge as a viable contender, the remaining free agent pool looks something like this:
Advertisement
DeAndre Hopkins
Deebo Samuel
Keenan Allen
Stefon Diggs
Tyreek Hill
The list reflects the current point in the offseason more than it reflects actual available talent. Had the Vikings been genuinely concerned about the WR3 position, they likely would have already made a move. Their patience suggests confidence in Felton or a specific draft strategy.
As of March, Felton has already cleared two significant hurdles: Nailor’s departure and the absence of a veteran signing. The opportunity is there; it’s now up to him to seize it.
4. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | DT
The 2025 5th-Rounder played 250 defensive snaps last season as a rookie, a noteworthy figure for a late-round pick. For his troubles, he banked a 58.3 Pro Football Focus grade — not very good but also not heinous for a lottery draft pick.
This month, Minnesota said goodbye to Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the two men directly in front of Ingram-Dawkins on the depth chart. Assuming the Vikings don’t sign Christian Wilkins or D.J. Reader from free agency or draft Peter Woods, Kayden McDonald, Caleb Banks, or Lee Hunter early next month, the seas have parted for Ingram-Dawkins to play a more meaningful role.
Advertisement
3. Jay Ward | S
Ward flashed so much down the stretch of 2025 that he took Theo Jackson’s job, who began 2025 as the starter next to Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus.
The man will enter Year No. 4 in 2026, hoping to capitalize on a third season when he tallied a PFF grade north of 70.0. Ward played about the same number of snaps as Ingram-Dawkins in 2025. If the Vikings don’t draft Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeill-Warren, Ward could be looking at a clear path to a starter’s job in September.
Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward aligns along the boundary in coverage, tracking pre-snap motion and settling into position against Philadelphia during a primetime matchup on Sep. 14, 2023, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the defense prepares for the snap in a loud and demanding road environment. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Our Janik Eckardt called Ward a “free agency winner” earlier this month, explaining, “Safety Jay Ward had his workload raised at the end of last season, consistently getting more snaps in Brian Flores’ unit after seemingly earning his trust.”
“Ward, a 2023 draft pick, is in line for a promotion. Harrison Smith is currently unsigned and might retire. The Vikings didn’t acquire a safety to take his spot, perhaps because they trust Ward. Flores’ trust and the depth chart uncertainty give him a clear path to doubling or tripling his snaps in 2026.”
Advertisement
2. Donovan Jackson | LG
Despite battling numerous injuries this season, including a wrist injury requiring surgery in September, Jackson demonstrated remarkable toughness, returning to the starting lineup within weeks of undergoing surgery in Los Angeles the day after the injury occurred.
He allowed 2 sacks as a rookie and was generally accepted by fans as a worthwhile 1st-Round draft pick. Jackson will start at left guard once again in 2026 and seems primed for a second-year jump.
Jackson should also benefit from Christian Darrisaw’s return to the full-time lineup at left tackle — the guy right next to him.
Advertisement
1. Dallas Turner | OLB
Turner finished 2025 strong, recording 8 sacks and anchoring the defense after Jonathan Greenard’s December injury. The second-year pass rusher’s performance demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion when Minnesota needed him most.
Sep 21, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) applies the pressure on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) during the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Still early in his career, Turner has significant potential for further development. If he were entering the league in 2026, his age would align perfectly with that of incoming rookie EDGE prospects. With time on his side, increased playing time could lead to a significant leap in performance.
His current production already hints at this trajectory. Turner earned a 70.2 pass-rushing grade from PFF and ranked second among all EDGE defenders with 4 forced fumbles.
Iga Swiatek’s childhood coach Artur Szostaczko has claimed that the Pole’s psychologist Daria Abramowicz is having a detrimental effect on her game. These comments come amidst the former World No.1 parting ways with coach Wim Fissette.
Swiatek has had a lukewarm 2026 season and has struggled to string together consistent wins. The 24-year-old failed to make it past the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Qatar Open and BNP Paribas Open and the most devastating blow came at the Miami Open, where she made an opening round exit. Amidst these struggles, the Pole parted ways with coach Wim Fissette, whom she has been working with since 2024 and who guided her to her maiden Wimbledon trophy.
Advertisement
Thanks for the submission!
However, Iga Swiatek‘s childhood coach Arthur Szostaczko recently claimed that the real problem on her team is her psychologist, telling Interia Sport,
Advertisement
“I know and have contact with many coaches and tennis people. No one there has worked with a psychologist to the extent that Iga has. Of course, a psychologist can help, but you have to be moderate. The way I see it, in a psychologist-athlete relationship, there’s usually some kind of entanglement and addiction. And the psychologist has the advantage in this situation. It’s possible that this is the case with Iga, that it’s a pattern. Perhaps she doesn’t know any different.”
Szostaczko also claimed that Swiatek’s dad could be contributing to the problems, adding,
“I also see the dad’s problem. And I’ll add that I wouldn’t want a player who won six titles, was number one for a long time, is still an outstanding tennis player, and now stands in front of the cameras and apologizes for losing to Linette. And she’s crying. This is a tragedy. Is she 12 years old? Who is she apologizing to and for what?”
Swiatek trained under Szostaczko when she was a little girl. Over the course of her senior career, the 24-year-old has worked with Piotr Sierzputowski, Tomasz Wiktorowski and Wim Fissette.
Iga Swiatek drops down to World No.1 in the WTA Rankings
Swiatek at the 2026 Miami Open (Image Source: Getty)
Iga Swiatek had a lukewarm start to her 2026 season as she went down against Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, her first competitive outing of the year.
Up next, the Pole delivered another flat showing at the Qatar Open, losing to a lower-ranked Maria Sakkari in the final eight. The former World No.1 experienced the same issues at Indian Wells, failing to cross the hurdle of the quarterfinals, this time due to Elina Svitolina.
Most recently, the 24-year-old was seen in action at the Miami Open, where she lost out in the opening round to compatriot Magda Linette in a three-set battle.
Advertisement
On the back of this loss, Iga Swiatek has dropped down to No.4 in the official WTA Rankings, with America’s Coco Gauff overtaking her as the new World No.3.
Nov 5, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark (74) stretches during warmups before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings bolstered their offensive line by signing offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark, a move that adds valuable depth after injuries sidelined both of their starting tackles in a 2025 season that saw the Vikings’ OL decimated by injuries throughout.
Minnesota Needed More Help at Offensive Tackle
Only Will Fries managed to suit up for every game on the Vikings OL last year, with Christian Darrisaw missing seven games and Brian O’Neill missing three games. Adding good depth to try to reduce the drop-off in case of injuries again in 2026 was a much-needed move.
Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark (74) against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
After going undrafted in 2022, Van Demark was first picked up by the Indianapolis Colts before quickly finding his way to the Buffalo Bills, where he spent the first three seasons of his career. Van Demark entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, and the Bills placed the lowest-level tender on him, which meant they had the right of first refusal on the Vikings’ one-year, fully guaranteed $4.2 million offer. On March 20, the Bills informed Minnesota it would not match the offer.
The Bills have cheaper options for the swing tackle job in Tylan Grable and Chase Lundt, and ultimately chose to let Van Demark go — Bills insiders have suggested it was a close call. \The Vikings signed Van Demark — who made six starts for the Bills over the last two seasons — to replace Justin Skule as the OT3 who can step in when required, with the veteran seemingly one-and-done as far as his time in Minnesota goes. Skule played in nine games last season across right and left tackle.
Advertisement
What Can Van Denmark Bring to Minnesota?
Like the Skule signing at this time last year, Van Demark profiles as a player who should be able to step in and do a decent job. He’s unlikely to be as good as Darrisaw or O’Neill, who are two of the best at their respective positions. Van Denmark steadily improved during his time in Buffalo and enjoyed his best season to date last year, with a career-high 312 snaps on offense and a career-high 74.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
Van Demark allowed 9 total pressures in pass protection, including 2 sacks allowed to opposing pass rushers. His strength lay in his run blocking, while the versatile tackle was also flagged for 3 penalties over the course of the season.
He was active for 31 consecutive games in Buffalo, showcasing reliable availability, which is as important as any skill a player might have. Van Demark should prove to be a low-key but solid offseason acquisition for the Vikings, adding some quality depth to the roster.
Advertisement
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
Michael Carrick has been big on implementing his own rules at Manchester United since taking over from Ruben Amorim in January
Michael Carrick has scrapped Ruben Amorim’s rule banning non-internationals from enjoying time away from club football.
During Amorim’s first few weeks in charge of Manchester United, he was left with a threadbare squad for training due to an international break. Marcus Rashford and Casemiro weren’t involved with their national teams, so they travelled to the United States for a few days’ rest.
Advertisement
However, this irritated the Portuguese boss who set a ban on treating international breaks as additional holidays for players not selected. He didn’t place blame on the United duo but confirmed that trips abroad won’t be permitted in future.
Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.
He said: “Would I set a different structure? Yes, for sure. But we cannot put this on the players. They [United] told them they have five days off so they can fly anywhere because nobody in the club says you cannot fly. So we cannot, this time, put that on Rash or Case.”
Amorim was sacked after 14 months in charge and Carrick stepped into the hotseat. With the March international break underway, many stars are away with their countries to either qualify for the World Cup in the summer or enjoy some friendly matches.
As a result, Carrick has been left with those not selected for international duty and have been putting them through their paces at Carrington. However, this holiday ban set by Amorim has been scrapped as the Daily Mail reported that United players will be given extra time off due to the fixture set-up.
Typically, international stars would return to training by the end of next week. But with the FA Cup quarter-finals in place for next weekend – and United not taking part – Carrick has allowed for the squad to enjoy some downtime.
Advertisement
With their last match taking place on Friday, March 20 and the next up not until April 13, United will have had four blank weekends on their calendar. Those not selected for international duty were obligated to train until Thursday, March 26 and were allowed the weekend off.
This time off could prove to be a major boost for injured stars currently recovering for the run-in. Matthijs De Ligt has been building to return with Patrick Dorgu planning to make a comeback before the end of the season too.
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL
Steve Clarke revealed his surprise and disappointment after hearing some boos from the Tartan Army following Scotland’s 1-0 defeat by Japan at Hampden in Glasgow.
The Scots were cheered off the pitch in November after a dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark qualified them for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998.
However, their return to the national stadium for the first of their warm-up games for North America was more sedate.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half but Hajime Moriyasu’s visitors got the breakthrough in the 84th minute through substitute Junya Ito and the home fans revealed their frustration at the end.
Scotland fell short against Japan (PA)
Asked if he was surprised by the reaction of the fans, Clarke said: “Yes and it disappointed me to be honest. It’s just the modern way, it seems to be now if you lose a game you get booed. You have just got to deal with it. It disappoints me.”
The visitors, on their way to their eighth successive World Cup finals, survived an early fright.
Advertisement
In the eighth minute Scott McTominay had a terrific chance to open the scoring when fellow midfielder John McGinn teed him up with a cross from the right but his unconvincing shot from 10 yards was pushed on to the post by Japan keeper Zion Suzuki and away to safety.
Moments later at the other end, Joel Fujita was given time and space to send in a powerful drive from 30 yards which tested Gunn, who saved a long-distance effort from Kodai Sano just before the half-hour mark.
The home side defended a series of corners as Japan tightened their grip and in the 38th minute Sano clipped the top of the bar with a side-footed drive from inside the box. The match went back and forth.
Gunn thwarted Yuito Suzuki as Japan broke with purpose before a McTominay header was saved by Suzuki just before the break with the Napoli playmaker seeing his free-kick from 25 yards tipped over the bar by the Parma keeper early in the second half.
Advertisement
Suzuki then parried a drive from Robertson past the post as Scotland stepped up the pace.
Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made a string of excellent saves (PA)
Ryan Christie and George Hirst replaced McGinn and Lyndon Dykes just after the hour mark before one of Japan’s many substitutes, Kaoru Mitoma came close with a shot from the edge of the box following a cleared corner, with Gunn denying Ito moments later.
The visitors’ threat intensified and Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean cleared a dinked shot from Ito off the line in the 69th minute before Hirst hit the side netting with a drive.
Findlay Curtis replaced Conway to make his debut in the 80th minute but four minutes later Genk midfielder Ito burst into the Scotland box to beat Gunn from 12 yards and end the stalemate.
Scotland will face Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson on Tuesday night as further preparation for the World Cup group games against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in the summer.
Advertisement
Clarke, who expects to make six or seven changes to the side on Merseyside, believes that playing top nations in warm-up games is crucial in order to show his players the level required in North America.
He said: “It not a game that you want to lose. But I think there’s enough in that game against the opposition we played against to still feel positive about what we’re trying to do.
Junya Ito scored Japan’s late winner (PA Wire)
“We have another really tough game on Tuesday night in Liverpool against Ivory Coast. Sometimes, I think my players look at me and say ‘come on gaffer what are you doing?’ I always try to pick difficult friendlies.
“So another difficult one on Tuesday night and we’ll try and get a positive result to carry it forward, but if the performance is as good and you can take things from the performance, you can also carry that forward as well.
“That’s why we take the games. This is where you have to be at. This is this is the level you have to reach and if you want to get the points that are going to get you out of the group stage, you have to play to that standard.”
Striker Alessia Russo nets a first-half hat-trick as Arsenal beat north London rivals Tottenham 5-2 in front of a crowd of more than 46,000 fans at Emirates Stadium.
Marcus Rashford has given Thomas Tuchel food for thought ahead of the World Cup
Marcus Rashford has gone up in Thomas Tuchel’s estimation after impressing him during England training.
Having previously dished out some tough love, Tuchel’s attitude appeared to notably soften following Rashford’s display against Uruguay, potentially boosting his chances of securing a place in the World Cup starting line-up. Last October, Tuchel delivered a stern message to the Manchester United forward, casting doubt on whether he would realise his potential as a world-class performer.
Advertisement
He said: “Potential is a dangerous word with high-level sports, because you have to reach your personal best on a regular basis – that is demanded on this kind of level and that is the challenge for him. It is not a question of talent.”
Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.
Those comments came before England’s victory in Latvia, where Rashford was notably relegated to the bench while Anthony Gordon started and scored in a 5-0 triumph. But Tuchel decided to start with Rashford against Uruguay after being impressed with his attitude and work rate on the training ground.
The German said: “He tries. He tries hard. He hasn’t started a game for a long, long time. So we gave him this because I spoke to him.
Advertisement
“I was very impressed with the training yesterday. It was a defensive training and he was very strong with Djed Spence on the side.
“Understanding how to initiate the press for us. He worked hard and I think he worked very hard. He just can’t get the goal that he maybe needs to be in full confidence. I’m happy with the way he tried and it was a constant threat.”
Rashford’s most recent England goal came against Serbia last September, while Tuchel may be somewhat harsh in his assessment of his playing time at Barcelona, given he last started on March 7.
Advertisement
However, Rashford has now returned to Tuchel’s favour, with Dom Solanke also earning plaudits alongside James Garner, whose adaptability – capable of operating at right-back and in midfield – could make him a late contender for selection.
Everton manager David Moyes has been a vocal advocate for Garner, and Tuchel has shown a notable interest in the player. The England squad approached the Uruguay fixture viewing it as an audition, with a sense that individual performances carried greater weight than the collective result.
Tuchel has indicated he got precisely what he was looking for from the Uruguay match and the preceding training sessions. Players were required to stake their claim before the established stars returned for the Japan fixture.
Advertisement
Tuchel added: “I was looking forward to that match, I tell you. I was looking forward because we had some good training sessions and the group was a lively group. We said to the group today do we expect everything to be perfect? Yeah, maybe yes, because we always do.
“But we are smart enough to understand. you play for the first time, you may be nervous. And you have a lot of information to take in over the last days. So it will maybe take a while and the opponents, they know what they are doing. They are playing in their best formation.
“So just keep going, stay positive. And they did. I liked the group a lot. I was excited to coach them. I was very happy when I did it. It seemed like we got a win for it.
Advertisement
“But it was good. It was nice. And now, of course, all the guys are now in the dressing room. It was a good atmosphere. It was nice to see everyone back and we need to make sure that they are ready now against Japan.”
Get £250 to switch to Virgin Media’s sport packages
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Virgin Media is paying new customers up to £250 as a bill credit when they switch to one of its TV and broadband packages, several which are packed with hundreds of channels including Sky Sports, Netflix and fibre broadband.
For the first time in more than two decades, the Illinois men’s basketball team will still be dancing when the Final Four tips off.
Iowa’s underdog run in the NCAA Tournament ended Saturday with a 71-59 loss to a dominant Illinois team. Before Illinois could cut down the nets at Houston’s Toyota Center, a buzzer malfunction caused a loud, roughly 10-minute delay.
The buzzer initially sounded signaling the end of a media timeout with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half. The horn continued blaring for about another seven minutes.
A referee talks with the scorer’s table during an official’s timeout due to a broken shot clock horn during the first half of an Elite Eight game between Iowa and Illinois in the NCAA Tournament Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Players stood on the court ready to play for a couple of minutes before both teams started to warm up as the buzzer continued to sound.
It was finally silenced, to cheers from the crowd, but then the main scoreboard and video screen that hangs over the middle of the court went dark.
The game ultimately resumed with the big scoreboard still off. Two smaller scoreboards at each end of the arena were working.
Advertisement
Freshman guard Keaton Wagler scored 25 points to help secure Illinois’ first Final Four berth since 2005.
Keaton Wagler (23) of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles against Isaia Howard (23) of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
This will be the sixth overall trip to the Final Four for Illinois, which has never won a national title. The Fighting Illini will face either Duke or UConn next week in Indianapolis.
NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru began IPL 2026 in commanding fashion, brushing aside Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the season opener at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. The result set the tone for the tournament, with RCB making a bold statement while attention now turns to Wankhede Stadium for Sunday’s clash between five-time champions Mumbai Indians and three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders.Kohli, Padikkal headline dominant chaseChasing 202, Virat Kohli anchored the innings with a fluent unbeaten 69 off 38 balls, striking five fours and five sixes. Returning to T20 cricket after a long break, Kohli looked in complete control as he registered his 64th IPL half-century and finished the game in style.
Watch
Hardik Pandya & Kieron Pollard Address MI Fans in Aamchi Mumbai
The chase was set up brilliantly by impact substitute Devdutt Padikkal, who smashed 61 off just 26 balls, reaching his fifty in 21 deliveries. His 101-run stand with Kohli off only 45 balls blew the game wide open.Captain Rajat Patidar added further impetus with a quickfire 31 off 12 balls, ensuring there were no hiccups despite a brief double strike from SRH’s impact player David Payne.RCB raced to 203/4 in just 15.4 overs, finishing the chase with 26 balls to spare in a show of pure batting dominance.Kishan shines, Duffy impresses on debutEarlier, SRH posted a competitive 201/9 after being put in to bat. Stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan led the charge with a scintillating 80 off 38 balls, supported by a late blitz from Aniket Verma, who struck 43 off 18 deliveries.However, early damage from debutant Jacob Duffy, who returned impressive figures of 3/22, left SRH struggling at 29/3. Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen steadied the innings with a 97-run stand, but momentum dipped after Klaasen’s controversial dismissal near the boundary.Despite late hitting, Hyderabad’s total proved insufficient against RCB’s aggressive batting unit.All eyes on Wankhede for Sunday clashWith the opening result setting a high benchmark, the spotlight now shifts to Mumbai, where Mumbai Indians take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the second match of the season.After RCB’s emphatic start to their title defence, both teams will be eager to make an early statement as IPL 2026 gathers pace.
It seems like Ilia Malinin, the “Quad God,” has done a nice job of moving on from his Olympic heartbreak.
Last month, the 21-year-old Team USA star was the overwhelming favorite to bring home the gold in the men’s free skate. But the unimaginable happened when he fell twice and dropped all the way to eighth place.
However, he has begun to avenge the loss and is now a three-time world champion.
Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the men’s free skating at the Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Malinin shouted and punched the air with relief after finishing a skate that showed he had achieved his desire to “move on” from the Olympics after days of being tormented by his mistakes.
Malinin scored 218.11 in the free skate for a total of 329.40, far ahead of silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan with 306.67. Another Japanese skater, Shun Sato, was third with 288.54.
Malinin was blunt about his Olympic performance when speaking to NBC afterward, saying simply, “I blew it,” and adding it was a clear mental hurdle from start to finish.
Advertisement
“I just had so many thoughts and memories flood right before I got into my starting pose, and almost, I think, it maybe overwhelmed me a little bit. I’ve been through a lot in my life, a lot of bad and good experiences,” Malinin told reporters.
Gold medalist Ilia Malinin of the U.S. waves to spectators after the medal ceremony after the men’s free skating at the Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 28, 2026.(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
“So, I just feel like it’s the pressure of especially being that Olympic gold medal hopeful. It was just something I can’t control now. The pressure of the Olympics, it’s really something different, and I think not a lot of people understand that.
“They only understand that from the inside, and going into this competition, especially today, I felt really confident, really good,” he added. “But it really just went by so fast I did not have time to process.”
Advertisement
But with some pressure off, Malinin was able to show who he truly is on the ice.
Gold medalist Ilia Malinin of the U.S. waves before the medal ceremony after the men’s free skating at the Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 28, 2026.(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Malinin became the first skater to win three consecutive men’s world titles since fellow American Nathan Chen, who achieved the feat in 2018, 2019 and 2021 after the 2020 event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Outspoken ESPN star Stephen A. Smith took a clear position in the ongoing debate about transgender athletes’ participation in girls and women’s sports.
“Biological men should not be competing against biological girls in sports, period,” Smith said during an appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher” after the Olympics’ policy on transgender women was mentioned.
“What about protecting the young ladies? Young ladies going up against biological men — biological men — there is no excuse for that.”
Stephen A. Smith joined Bill Maher on the March 27 episode of “Real Time,” discussing politics and who could potentially lead both parties going forward.(Real Time with Bill Maher/YouTube)
Smith then mentioned former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas.
“Lia Thomas, for example, was a male, and he was ranked over 400th in the world. … And then he became a she. … And No. 1. Well … does it really take an Einstein to realize that there’s something wrong with that picture?”
Advertisement
Sadie Schreiner puts a transgender flag in her hair before heading to the awards stand after finishing third in the finals of the 200-meter race at the 2024 NCAA Division III outdoor track and field championships at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium May 25, 2024, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.(Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Smith has previously spoken about his views on transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports, including during a February 2025 Radio Row interview ahead of that year’s Super Bowl.
“So, that’s how I look at it. LGBTQ rights and all that stuff, I’m in full support of that, but when transgender athletes — men — are transitioning to women and they’re competing in female sports, that’s a different animal to me,” he said.
“That’s not just about LGBTQ rights. That’s about preying on the rights of females out there everywhere who were born female, and they’re at a decided disadvantage.”
Those comments from Smith surfaced around the same time in 2025 when President Donald Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, which directed federal agencies to interpret Title IX based on biological sex at birth.
The NCAA complied with Trump’s executive order and changed its policy.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login