Ilia Malinin’s Stellar Skate Canada Performance Confirms Olympic Favorite Status

Ilia Malinin showcased an extraordinary performance at Skate Canada, solidifying his status as the leading contender for Olympic gold. The 20-year-old figure skater from Fairfax, Virginia, broke the world record for the free skate, maintaining his unbeaten streak over the past two years.

Record-Breaking Free Skate Performance

During an impressive routine, Malinin landed six quadruple jumps and a triple axel. His free skate was choreographed to music from the French thriller “Les Bal des Folles,” leading him to achieve a personal best of 333.81 points. This score not only secured him the first place but also left him 76.6 points ahead of the runner-up.

Skate Canada Results

• Ilia Malinin (USA): 333.81 points (Free skate: 228.97 points, World record)
• Aleksandr Selevko (Estonia): 257.21 points (Second place)
• Kao Miura (Japan): 253.69 points (Bronze medal)

Malinin’s free skate score surpassed the previous record of 224.92 points held by Olympic champion Nathan Chen since the 2019 Grand Prix Final. This impressive achievement further cements his reputation in the elite tier of figure skating.

Ice Dance Highlights

In the ice dance category, Canadian pair Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier claimed their sixth consecutive Skate Canada title with a score of 202.89 points. They faced stiff competition from:

• Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius (Lithuania): 200.92 points (Second place)
• Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha (Canada): Achieved a notable finish, surpassing the U.S. team.

Although Gilles and Poirier fell short of their personal best, they remain formidable contenders against American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates ahead of the Olympics.

Upcoming Events and Malinin’s Journey

Malinin extends his impressive record, having not lost since November 2023, when he finished second at the Grand Prix de France. His track record includes two world titles and championships at the previous two Grand Prix Finals. He is poised to be a strong favorite for the Grand Prix Final in December, set in Nagoya, Japan.

Looking toward the Olympics, Malinin is positioned to potentially follow Nathan Chen’s legacy with his own gold medal at the Milano-Cortina Games. Despite narrowly missing qualification for the Beijing Games due to age restrictions, he has emerged as a dominant figure in figure skating.

Future Competitions

Skate Canada is part of the Grand Prix series, with upcoming events including:

• NHK Trophy (Japan) – Next weekend
• Skate America (Lake Placid, New York)
• Finlandia Trophy – Last opportunity for Grand Prix Final qualification

As Malinin prepares for these challenges, fans and analysts alike eagerly anticipate his next performances, which will further shape his Olympic journey.