Vienna-based figure skater and two-time World Figure Skating Champion Ilia Malinin pulled out all the stops December 6 at the International Skating Union (ISU) 2025 Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan. His gold finish paves an almost certain path to representing the United States at the Milano Cortina Olympics in February 2026. The U.S. Olympic figure skating teams will officially be selected in January.
Following an uncharacteristic stumble and third-place win in the event’s short program, Malinin regained control with an historic free skate where he landed seven quadruple jumps and earned a jaw-dropping score of 238.24 and an overall final score of 332.29.
Crowds roared, waving American flags and tossing flowers to the ice as Malinin took his bows. The 21-year-old Vienna skater finished the program like a triumphant warrior, stomping the ice with fists clinched, chest heaving, and arms pumped high before skating to the gate to hug his father, Roman Skorniakov, who coaches with Malinin’s mother, Tatiana Malinina.
Both parents are former Olympic skaters. At a post-win interview, Malinin thanked his fans for their support and said he will use the coming months to keep working and improving in preparation for coming competitions.
Feature image of Ilia Malinin after the men’s free skate in Japan by Xinhua/Yue Chenxing via Alamy
