Ilia Malinin Sets World Record with Stunning Olympic Tune-Up Skate
At the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan, Ilia Malinin, a 21-year-old American figure skater, made headlines by setting a new world record with an extraordinary free skate performance. Starting in third place, Malinin faced a significant challenge following a mistake during Thursday’s short program, which left him over 14 points behind the leaders.
Record-Breaking Free Skate Performance
On Saturday, Malinin enchanted the audience with a remarkable routine featuring seven quadruple jumps. This performance garnered him a score of 238.24 points in the free skate and a total of 332.29 points overall, securing his position as the champion of this prestigious event. His nearest competitor, Yuma Kagiyama from Japan, finished with 302.41 points, while Shun Sato took third place with 292.08 points.
Chasing Olympic Glory
Malinin’s score is the highest recorded in the free skate segment since the scoring system was revised in 2004, though he narrowly missed breaking the overall world record of 335.30, established by Nathan Chen in 2019.
- Free Skate Score: 238.24 points
- Total Score: 332.29 points
- Second Place: Yuma Kagiyama (302.41 points)
- Third Place: Shun Sato (292.08 points)
Rising Above Challenges
Malinin expressed gratitude to the cheering crowd, stating, “Overall, it was pretty good. I feel so happy I was able to fight through every single element.” His journey to this victory, however, has not been easy. Initially, during the short program, he struggled with a quadruple axel, a jump yet to be landed in competition. After stepping out of the jump, he opted not to perform the following triple toe loop.
Future Aspirations
After his win, commentators praised Malinin’s performance, with Ted Barton describing it as “one of the great skates in men’s figure skating history.” As he prepares for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, Malinin aims to secure his first Olympic medals. He has a remarkable track record, having not lost a competition since November 2023.
With three consecutive Grand Prix Finals wins and two world championships under his belt, Malinin is set to vie for his fourth straight title at the U.S. Championships next month. This time, he is determined not to be overlooked for the Olympic team, which will be announced following the championships.
