Malinin Leads US Figure Skating After Short Program | Quad King
The men’s figure skating competition at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games is underway, with Ilia Malinin of the United States currently leading after Tuesday’s short program qualification round. Malinin, a 21-year-old from Vienna, Virginia, delivered a strong performance, scoring 108.16 points and establishing himself as a frontrunner for the gold medal.
A New Generation Takes the Ice
Malinin’s impressive score was achieved through a technically demanding routine, including a quadruple flip, a quadruple lutz, and a backflip, set to music from the video game The Lost Crown. He is known as the “Quad God” for his mastery of quadruple jumps, having previously become the first skater to land a quadruple axel in competition and execute seven quads within a single program.
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, the silver medalist from Beijing 2022, is currently in second place with a score of 103.07. France’s Adam Siao Him Fa secured third place with a personal best score of 102.55 points.
Navigating the Pressure and Personal Stories
Malinin acknowledged experiencing nerves during the team event short program, stating he was “too excited” and that it “bit me in the back.” He noted that Kagiyama outperformed him in that earlier round. For the individual short program, Malinin adopted a more relaxed approach, focusing on trusting his training and experience.
The competition isn’t solely about athletic prowess. American skater Maxim Naumov delivered a season’s best short program, scoring 85.65, while carrying a poignant tribute to his parents, who tragically passed away in a plane crash. He carried a photo of them with him as he awaited his score, hoping they could share in the moment.
Unique Performances and Qualifying for the Final
Canada’s Stephen Gogolev also made his mark, scoring 87.41 in his short program with a performance themed around bank robbers. Despite a minor wardrobe malfunction with his laces coming undone, he qualified for the final. Spain’s Tomas Guarino Sabate, after resolving a copyright dispute, performed to a medley including music from Despicable Me, featuring a Minion-inspired costume, though a fall on his first jump prevented him from qualifying for the free program finals.
Malinin holds the world record for the highest free program score, achieving 238.24 points at the International Skating Union Grand Prix Finals in December. He is coached by his parents, Tatyana Malinina and Roman Skornyakov, both former Olympic figure skaters who competed for Uzbekistan.
What’s Next?
The competition will culminate on Friday with the free programs. Malinin’s free program will include five quadruple jumps and a backflip, a move he successfully executed in the team event. Kagiyama and Siao Him Fa will aim to challenge Malinin’s lead, while other skaters will strive to climb the rankings. The final results will depend on the skaters’ ability to deliver clean and technically challenging performances under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ilia Malinin known for?
Ilia Malinin is known as the “Quad God” because of his ability to perform multiple quadruple jumps in his programs, including being the first skater to land a quadruple axel in competition.
Who is currently in second place after the short program?
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama is currently in second place after the short program, scoring 103.07 points.
What made Maxim Naumov’s performance particularly emotional?
Maxim Naumov carried a photo of his parents, who were Olympic pairs figure skaters and tragically died in a plane crash, with him as he awaited his score, wanting them to share in the moment.
As the skaters prepare for the free program, what aspects of their performances do you think will be most crucial for success?