Winter Olympics 2026: Ilia Malinin Makes Olympic Debut with Solid Short Program, Sits Second
The excitement around figure skating at the Winter Olympics 2026 escalated this weekend as the two-time and reigning world champion from the United States, Ilia Malinin, made his Olympic debut. Known as the “quad god,” Malinin entered Milano as the favorite for gold, yet faced stiff competition on Saturday, February 7th, from Japan’s Kagiyama Yuma.
In the team event, Malinin finished the evening ranked second with a score of 98.00, while Kagiyama outshone him with an impressive score of 108.67. The individual performances played a significant role in the current standings, where Team USA leads with 34 points across men’s, pairs, and women’s short programs as well as rhythm dance, and Japan closely trails with 33 points.
Malinin, 21, made history last year by becoming the first skater to execute a quadruple Axel in competition. He had planned to include this element in his competition routine set to the dramatic piece “The Lost Crown”. However, he ultimately opted not to perform the challenging jump during the short program. Should he succeed in executing the quadruple Axel at these Olympics, he would be the first to accomplish such a feat on winter Olympic ice, solidifying his legacy in the sport.
“I’m looking forward to showcasing my abilities,” Malinin expressed before the competition. As the figure skating events unfold, his next opportunity will be during the free dance later on Saturday. Stay tuned for updates!
The excitement of the Winter Olympics 2026 continues to build, bringing together the world’s best in figure skating as they compete for the ultimate prize. With each passing performance, the drama and anticipation reach new levels—as athletes like Malinin strive to carve their names into Olympic history.
