Ilia Malinin Shines at Olympics, Set to Dominate Figure Skating
Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God” since childhood, has certainly proven himself on the ice. This past Sunday, the 21-year-old secured his first Olympic gold medal during the mixed team event, and now he’s a leading contender for individual honors.
His recent short program performance at the Milan-Cortina Games was impressive, putting him in a favorable position for a medal. This is just the beginning for someone who might someday be dubbed among the giants of figure skating.
Malinin is steeped in the sport; both of his parents are former Olympic competitors, having collectively won 17 national championships representing Uzbekistan. His achievements include winning the U.S. Junior Championship in 2016 and the U.S. Intermediate Championship in 2017. He hasn’t slowed down, setting a junior world record with a score of 88.99 in the free skate at the 2022 World Junior Championships, winning gold by a staggering 42 points.
Interestingly, despite his undeniable talent, Malinin was overlooked for the Olympic roster at just 17 years old, which was perhaps a catalyst for his drive. Since then, he’s clinched singles gold at two World Championships, triumphed in three Grand Prix Finals, and secured four U.S. Championships. By the time he arrived in Italy, he had already solidified his legacy, having achieved a world record for the highest free skate score at 238.24 points.
His competition has struggled to keep up; last year, his winning margin at the world championships was so wide that it was greater than the point difference between the silver medalist and the ninth-place finisher.
During the short program on Tuesday, Malinin scored 108.16 points, outpacing Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama at 103.07 and France’s Adam Hsiao Him Fa, who scored 102.55.
At this stage, it would be quite a surprise if anyone other than the “God of the Quad” took home the gold medal later this week. It seems fitting that he earned such a legendary nickname, and at just 21, he could be on the verge of creating a storied legacy in the world of figure skating.
