BOSTON

In an exhilarating display of athleticism, Ilia Malinin has successfully defended his title at the World Figure Skating Championships, landing an astounding six quadruple jumps during his free skate routine. This remarkable achievement culminates an undefeated season, pushing Malinin's win streak to an impressive nine events since December 2023.

Malinin's score of 318.56 points, combining his short program and his electrifying free skate set to "I’m Not a Vampire," positioned him comfortably ahead of his closest competitor, Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan, who scored a personal best and landed four quads himself. The U.S. champion's victory margin of 31.09 points is not only significant but also marks the second-largest in men's figure skating history under the current scoring system, surpassed only by Nathan Chen's 47.63-point win in 2018.

Despite entering the competition with high expectations, Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama slipped from second place to bronze due to several jumping errors during his free skate, ultimately finishing 3.32 points behind Malinin after the short program.

Among other competitors, Americans Jason Brown and Andrew Torgashev finished eighth and 22nd, respectively, but showcased the strength of U.S. men's figure skating as the nation qualified the maximum three spots for the men's event at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Should the U.S. secure a third pairs spot at a last-chance qualifier, it will be the first time since 1984 that the country sends a complete team across all four disciplines.

What’s even more astounding is Malinin's execution of six different types of quadruple jumps: flip, Axel, Lutz, loop, toe loop, and Salchow, each intricately combined in his performance. Notably, this is the first time in figure skating history that a skater completed all six types of quads in a single program without receiving deductions for under-rotations. Previously, Malinin had landed all six types with two under-rotations at December’s Grand Prix Final.

The only hiccup in Malinin's otherwise flawless routine was his attempt at the quadruple Lutz, which he doubled. As he reflected on his performance, Malinin expressed a mix of emotions regarding his pursuit of a historic seventh quad, stating, “It’s a tough question to answer. I’m excited for winning but also a bit disappointed for not landing the seven quads. That’s my ideal layout—I really want to master it and make it feel effortless.

It’s fascinating to note that Malinin, son of Uzbek Olympic skaters, could be making his debut at the upcoming Winter Olympics in February. Historically, every American man who claimed the world title one year before the Olympics went on to secure Olympic gold the following year. Previous champions like Dick Button, Scott Hamilton, and Nathan Chen have set this remarkable trend, and Malinin aims to continue it.

Having emerged as a formidable force in the sport, Malinin made waves in the 2022-2023 season by becoming the first skater to land a quad Axel in competition. His meteoric rise has not only filled the gap left by Chen's retirement but has also taken the technical aspects of jumping to unprecedented heights.

As the curtain falls on this season, all eyes will be on the World Team Trophy scheduled for April 17-19, where Malinin’s quest for more historical achievements will continue. Will he finally land that elusive seventh quad? Fans and figure skating enthusiasts alike are eagerly waiting to find out!