This US figure skating icon surely has the blessings of the skating legends. As the unfortunate plane crash wrapped the figure skating world under gloomy darkness, the figure skater decided to channel the gloom to embrace a path of illumination. Coming into the World Figure Skating Championships, the 20-year-old had one clear goal: to win the title and honor the ones who had lost their lives in the horrific crash. And well, if morning does show the day, then bright things await the figure skating icon.
Ilia Malinin came into the tournament as the firm favorite. And quite surely, his recent performances have been fully echoing his status as a champion. Competing in the short program, the defending champion delivered a thumping performance. So much so, that his arch-rival from Japan, Yuma Kagiyama, exclaimed saying, “I’m starting to think he’s invincible.” Performing a pair of quads, followed by a triple axel, Malinin scored a whopping 110.41! Yet he reflected, “I’m still human.”
This was such a dominating performance that Malinin’s score was just three points short of the 2022 world record set by Nathan Chen at the 2022 Winter Olympics. And quite expectedly, by virtue of this score, Malinin was in the lead quite comfortably. With three points clear of the second-placed Yuma Kagiyama, Malinin ensured that a couple of positives went his way.
This first one was the fact that the race to the title has now almost become a two-man affair. The other thing is that Malinin himself has ensured that he will be the favorite to capture the gold medal for the second consecutive time. After all, with a huge lead, it is Ilia Malinin’s game to lose from here on. Quite expected, Malinin was extremely happy after his sensational performance. When asked to reflect on his performance, the 20-year-old stated that he was feeling quite confident.
“I felt really confident on the ice today. As the music started playing and I got in the flow, it took me where I wanted it to take me,” Malinin said. He further added, “I’m really proud of my performance. It was such a remarkable experience for me.” Surely, the performance has been a reflection of Ilia Malinin’s impressive run of play for the past few years. After all, he has been undefeated since 2023!
Ilia Malinin’s unbeaten streak sets high expectations for Milano-Cortina
His impeccable dominance has undoubtedly made him the overwhelming favorite to deliver more gold for the U.S. at the Milano-Cortina Games. The Grand Prix Final champion from Fairfax, Virginia, has thrived under the pressure, skating with a swagger that makes his performances look effortless.
Malinin’s latest triumph at the world championships underscored his control over men’s figure skating. His short program, set to “Running” by NF, earned a standing ovation from the TD Garden crowd. His veteran teammate, Jason Brown, marveled at Malinin’s ease on the ice and admitted, “He just looks so effortless. That, to me, is what is so mind-blowing. What he does with so much ease, you feel like the sky’s the limit.”
Now comes the big question: Can Malinin push his limits even further? He remains the only skater ever to land the quad-axle in competition. Moreover, he has hinted at aiming to land seven four-revolution jumps in a single free skate, a feat that would set a new benchmark in the sport. Ilia confessed, “That would be my goal to go for all of those.”
With his unbeaten streak intact and his sights set on rewriting the record books, Malinin’s dominance shows no signs of slowing. The path to Olympic gold is paved with expectations from fans. And as it appears, Malinin seems ready to deliver.
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