Malinin Crushes It, Wins Skate Canada International in a Landslide
Team USA’s Ilia Malinin delivered a historic performance on Sunday, securing victory at the highly competitive Skate Canada International with a record-breaking free skate score. This triumph marks another highlight in a season where the U.S. team earned three medals at the third event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.
Malinin, a two-time and reigning world champion, showcased his incredible talent by landing six quad jumps, three of which were in combination. His remarkable free skate score of 228.97 shattered his previous world record of 227.79, which he set at the 2024 World Championships. Additionally, Malinin became the first skater in history to cleanly land five different quad jumps in a single program without any deductions.
His overall score of 333.81 points not only solidified his dominance but also placed him a staggering 76.60 points ahead of the silver medalist. With this commanding victory, Malinin has secured his spot in the upcoming ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final next month in Japan, where he will aim to defend his title as the Grand Prix Final champion.
The Virginia native’s free skate performance was impeccably choreographed to a medley of tracks featuring “The Ball” by Asaf Avidan, blending athletic prowess with artistic expression. Notably, he landed three of his quad jumps in the second half, earning a substantial 61.38 points from those jumps alone. His event-best program components score of 90.48 exceeded the next competitor’s score by 8.52 points.
Fellow teammate Tomoki Hiwatashi finished ninth in the free skate with a score of 146.26, totaling 230.58 overall. In ice dance, Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko led the U.S. teams by placing fourth in the free dance with a score of 114.40 and an overall total of 191.23, showcasing their skills with impressive lifts and a high-scoring diagonal step sequence.
Looking ahead, another strong U.S. contingent will compete in the NHK Trophy in Japan next weekend, aiming to continue the momentum built at Skate Canada International.
