BOSTON — The grand finale of the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships saw a spectacular showcase as the United States celebrated monumental victories. With the anticipation building for Ilia Malinin’s free skate, the 20-year-old reigning champion from Virginia aimed to defend his title and solidify his reputation as the frontrunner for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Entering the final day, Malinin possessed approximately a three-point lead over Japan's Yuma Kagiyama. As the only skater to ever successfully execute a quadruple axel in competition, Malinin has not experienced defeat in nearly 18 months and is set on clinching his second consecutive world championship.

If successful, this would mark a historic achievement for the U.S., as it would be the first time the country has triumphed in three disciplines at the same world championships.

Excitement heightened as Madison Chock and Evan Bates dazzled the crowd with a sensational free skate, earning their third consecutive world title in ice dance. Their performance, themed around jazz, captivated the audience and positioned them ahead of their Canadian competitors, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier.

Earlier in the event, the crowd was thrilled by Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck's energetic Dune-themed routine, which not only showcased their athleticism but also left an emotional imprint on the audience, as Dieck was visibly moved on the ice. The Spanish duo's exceptional performance earned them a substantial score of 123.71, making waves in the competition.

On the American front, Caroline Green and Michael Parsons concluded their season on a high note with a beautifully executed performance reflecting emotional depth, earning a score of 114.96, while Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko followed closely with a score of 123.37, likely placing them in fifth.

The stakes were high at this championship, as performances here are crucial for earning Olympic berths. A total of 83 quota spots across four disciplines were at stake, leading to much speculation about which countries would ultimately fill those coveted positions for the upcoming Olympics.

As for Malinin, his free skate performance later that evening would undoubtedly draw significant attention. In his short program, he skated flawlessly to "Running" by rapper NF, executing a challenging quad lutz-triple toe loop combination that prompted the crowd to erupt in cheers long before his performance concluded.

The highly anticipated free skate was scheduled for 9:44 PM ET, broadcasted live on NBC and Peacock, promising fans an exhilarating conclusion to the championships.

Viewers can catch the remaining sessions as follows: - 1:30 PM to 4:50 PM ET: Free dance (with USA Network starting coverage at 3 PM) - 6 PM to 9:52 PM ET: Men's free skate (NBC coverage commencing at 8 PM)