At Skate Canada, Ilia Malinin keeps one eye fixed on Milano Cortina 2026: “I’m slowly building up to it”
Ilia Malinin, the two-time and reigning world champion, is set to make waves at the 2025 Skate Canada International this weekend, but with February on his mind, he remains deliberately focused on the Olympic stage. “It’s not my peak and I’m not worried about that right now,” the 20-year-old American stated on the eve of the competition in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. “My main goal is the Olympics. I want it to be my peak performance. So right now, it’s just kind of slowly building up to it.”
After a commanding 40-point victory at the Grand Prix de France, Malinin is striving for his 12th consecutive international win, with his sights set on securing a position in December’s Grand Prix Final in Japan. Known for his athletic prowess, he’s working hard on perfecting the quadruple loop jump, a technical element he’s keen to integrate as he prepares for the crucial months ahead.
“This week I want to try to get the quad loop in there just to start getting used to that and feeling the muscle memory,” Malinin elaborated, emphasizing his ambitious goal of executing all seven quads at the U.S. nationals and the Olympics. Currently at “85 percent” capacity in training, he remains committed to evolving his performance for the upcoming challenges.
As Malinin gears up, he faces tough competitors, including France’s Kévin Aymoz and Japan’s Miura Kao. With a desire to capture his second consecutive Skate Canada title, he believes that his experience and determination will guide him through. Though he admits he’s not “100 percent” physically, he feels fit enough to compete and continues to adapt his training regimen ongoing.
In anticipation of the approaching Milano Cortina 2026 Games, Malinin has engaged fans through high-profile social media campaigns, marking the countdown while staying grounded with the support of his pets. “I’ve managed to overcome [challenges] pretty well, thanks to my cats,” he shared, revealing the personal hurdles he’s faced.
The coming weeks will be pivotal for Malinin as he balances the quest for victories with the strategic planning necessary for achieving his long-term goals in professional figure skating.
