Ilia knew that after the shambles that had been the 2026 Winter Olympics, he had all to play for in the World Championships. He was tired, it had been a long season. But the pressure that he knew was on him, he was determined to overcome.

He had to prove he was still the best.

And for the third year in a row, Ilia was declared the World Champion. His blue eyes light up with joy, not just for the win, but for the fact the season was now over, and maybe he could unwind a little. He fluffs up his blonde hair as he exits the podium, a big smile on his face. A rarity these days.

People were finally congratulating him, instead of asking him questions about his Olympic performance, and that bought Ilia a sense of comfort again. He was back on top.