In a stunning comeback performance, American figure skater Ilia Malinin reclaimed his position at the pinnacle of the sport, securing his third consecutive world championship title in Prague on Saturday. Just six weeks after a disastrous free skate at the Olympics left him off the podium, Malinin delivered a masterful routine, landing five high-scoring quadruple jumps and adding a backflip for flair, to solidify his status as the "quad god."
A Triumphant Return to Form
Skating last after leading the short program, Malinin showcased his technical prowess and mental resilience. He shouted and punched the air in relief upon finishing, expressing his desire to "move on" from the Olympic setbacks that had tormented him. Malinin praised the supportive crowd, stating, "It was really challenging, really hard but with you guys I was able to make it through." His primary goal was simply to get through the free skate "in one piece," a modest aim that belied his dominant performance.
Pressure-Free Mindset Leads to Success
Malinin attributed his success to a refreshed mindset, free from the intense pressure of the Olympics. He explained, "Going here I felt like there was almost no pressure at all. I just completely blocked out all the expectations, all the pressure that people put on me and was really here to escape for myself and enjoy every moment of these world championships." This approach allowed him to focus on enjoying his time on the ice, which translated into a commanding score of 218.11 in the free skate for a total of 329.40 points.
Competitive Field and Notable Absences
Malinin's victory placed him far ahead of silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan, who scored 306.67, and bronze medalist Shun Sato, also from Japan, with 288.54. Kagiyama, despite beating his personal-best free skate score, secured his fourth career world championship silver, adding to a collection that includes four Olympic silvers. He graciously embraced Malinin after the skate, celebrating together. Kagiyama remarked, "I came here solely focused on finishing the event with a satisfying performance," expressing relief at achieving that goal.
The competition saw notable shifts, with France's Adam Siao Him Fa dropping from second to fifth after a fall, and Estonia's Aleksandr Selevko falling from third to sixth. There was no rematch with Olympic gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, who opted out of competing this season, a common choice for champions facing post-Olympic media and commercial demands.
Historical Achievement
With this win, Malinin becomes the first skater to win three consecutive men's world titles since fellow American Nathan Chen, who achieved the feat in 2018, 2019, and 2021, following the cancellation of the 2020 event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This milestone underscores Malinin's growing legacy in the sport.
Ice Dance Highlights
In other events, ice dance was the only discipline where the Milan Cortina Olympic champions competed. France's Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron added a world title to their accolades, scoring personal bests of 138.07 in the free dance for a total of 230.81. This capped a successful, albeit sometimes controversial, first season together.
Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Olympic bronze medalists, secured their third consecutive world silver with a score of 211.52. The United States earned a surprise bronze through Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, scoring 209.20, after British pair Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson received a two-point deduction for an "illegal element/movement."
Earlier in the week, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan won the women's gold for her fourth world title before retiring, and Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin claimed the pairs title on Thursday.
