KEY POINT
- Ilia Malinin led Team USA to a gold medal in the figure skating team competition.
- He currently holds first place in the men’s singles short program with 108.16 points.
- The final results, including potential individual medals, will be determined after Friday’s free skate.
MILAN, Italy — Ilia Malinin, already instrumental in securing Team USA’s gold medal in the figure skating team event, is poised to contend for individual Olympic honors after leading the men’s singles short program at the 2026 Winter Games.
The two time world champion, known as the “Quad God” for his repeated successful quadruple axels, scored 108.16 points in the short program on Tuesday, placing first and advancing to Friday’s free skate finals.
Malinin’s performance reasserted his dominance after a team short program that fell below his personal standards a week earlier.
Fellow Americans Andrew Torgashev and Maxim Naumov also advanced to the finals, scoring 88.94 and 85.65 points respectively, ranking eighth and 14th. The top 24 skaters from the short program progressed to Friday’s final segment.
Malinin’s performance underscores the United States’ strong presence in figure skating at the 2026 Games. His technical prowess and consistency place him in contention for a second gold medal in Milan, potentially making him the first US skater since Nathan Chen in 2022 to achieve Olympic success in multiple categories at a single Games.
Malinin entered the season with victories at the Lombardia Trophy and the Grand Prix de France, culminating in a near record total score of 333.81 at Skate Canada, almost 80 points ahead of second place skater Aleksandr Selevko of Estonia.
His competitive history demonstrates a consistent capacity to challenge the highest scoring marks in the sport, including approaching Nathan Chen’s world record of 335.30 points.
“Malinin’s work ethic is extraordinary,” said Shae-Lynn Bourne, his choreographer. “He arrives early, stays late, and continually pushes his limits. That kind of dedication translates directly into competitive advantage.”
James Grogan, former US figure skating champion and current analyst for the Olympic Broadcast Network, noted, “Landing multiple quadruple axels in a single program is unprecedented at this level. His technical base gives him a clear edge heading into the free skate.”
“Watching him perform the quad axel live is surreal,” said Anna Rossi, a figure skating coach based in Milan. “It’s a move many skaters attempt once in a career, and he’s landing it consistently in competition.”
US Olympic team manager Mark Haney added, “Ilia is carrying the momentum from the team gold. His focus and preparation set a strong precedent for his individual performance.”
Friday’s free skate will determine the final medal standings for the men’s singles competition. Malinin’s technical difficulty and previous scoring history position him as a strong contender, though competitors such as Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama remain within striking distance. Analysts emphasize that performance consistency under Olympic pressure will be decisive.
Ilia Malinin’s leadership in Team USA’s gold medal effort and his commanding short program performance in men’s singles highlight both his technical skill and competitive resilience.
As the free skate approaches, the figure skating community will closely monitor whether he secures an additional Olympic medal, potentially solidifying his status among the sport’s all time elite.
