Winter Olympics 2026: Ilia Malinin strong, but not invincible in Olympic debut
The competition is heating up as the Winter Olympics Milano Cortina 2026 reaches its thrilling climax. Heading into the final of the figure skating team event, the USA and Japan showcase tight competition, with a mere point separating the two nations. With the USA leading with 34 points, Japan closely trails with 33 points after an electrifying men’s short program on February 7.
All eyes were on Ilia Malinin as he made his highly anticipated Olympic debut. Though Team USA secured their spot among the top five without needing a standout performance from Malinin, his finish in second place came as a surprise, particularly as he was outscored by Japan’s Kagiyama Yuma, the world bronze medalist.
Setting audacious goals, Malinin had geared up to execute the quad Axel—an unprecedented jump in competition—only to scale it down to a quad flip amidst mounting pressure. His routine thrummed with excitement but was marred by under-rotations and points deductions, clocking in at 98.00 points.
In contrast, Kagiyama brought exuberance to the ice, earning a season’s best score of 108.77 and kicking off his program with impressive jumps and spins. While Malinin had captured audience admiration with a signature backflip, Kagiyama’s confidence resonated deeply, propelling Team Japan into contention.
Canada’s Stephen Gogolev emerged as a delightful surprise of the night despite enormous expectations placed on him to elevate Team Canada’s standings. He soared to a personal best with a score of 92.99, landing his quad Salchow and adding a quad toeloop in tandem. Following awkward moments on the ice, the joys of achievement shone through as the crowd rallied behind him.
Conversely, Cha Junhwan of Korea experienced a rocky start with missteps overshadowing his potential. A disappointed Cha remains optimistic, waiting for his individual chance later this week.
The skating world eagerly awaits the culmination of Team USA and Team Japan’s remarkable roles in this fierce contest, with the culmination expected to run deep in emotional intensity and technical prowess.
