Ilia Malinin lay on the ice at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Sunday as the audience erupted in applause, clearly captivated by his prowess.
He consistently evokes a powerful response from spectators.
In a remarkable exhibition of skill, the reigning world champion executed six out of his seven planned quad jumps, including the elusive quad axel—a jump that he is the only skater to have successfully landed in competition—culminating his routine with a score of 333.31 points to secure his third consecutive national title at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
Andrew Torgashev made an impressive showing, landing two quads in his free skate and finishing second with a score of 286.49 points. In third place was Camden Pulkinen, who capitalized on a less-than-stellar performance from Jimmy Ma, finishing with a score of 252.92 points.
Malinin aimed to achieve the unprecedented feat of landing seven clean quads in one competition and came close. He kicked off his performance with a quad flip, successfully executed his quad axel, and achieved another challenge with a quad lutz, the second-most difficult quad jump.
However, he stumbled on his quad loop, expressing his frustration with an air punch mid-routine.
Nevertheless, he regrouped to land three additional quads, seamlessly linking them into other jumps, and ended his performance with an engaging backflip that delighted the crowd.
“It wasn’t the perfect routine I envisioned, but I believe I provided a solid foundation for this program,” Malinin commented, acknowledging that he was using the national championships as a trial run in preparation for the upcoming world championships in Boston.
Notably, his score for this event would have nearly equaled Nathan Chen’s record of 335.30 points had it occurred at an international competition.
“I’m still working towards my full potential, and I believe I can push further,” Malinin stated confidently.
Entering the free skate, Malinin had already established an impressive lead, outpacing the competition by 19.14 points following a remarkable short program that, while impressive, was somewhat subdued by his own standards.
Referred to as the “Quad God,” he completed a quad flip and a quad lutz-triple toe loop combination but opted for a triple axel instead of attempting his quad axel.
Reflecting on this choice, he noted, “There’s pressure to perform the quad axel at every competition. While others may expect greater achievements, I prioritize consistency.”
The 20-year-old skater from Fairfax, Virginia, remains undefeated in his last eight competitions since coming in second at the Grand Prix de France last year—a remarkable streak that includes his second national title, two wins at the prestigious Grand Prix Final, and a world championship that he aims to defend in his hometown in March.
This impressive run has led Ma to place Malinin alongside Nathan Chen, the retired Olympic champion, in terms of greatness. “I don’t even see Ilia as competition anymore; it feels unattainable,” Ma expressed, adding that it is a privilege to compete alongside such exceptional athletes.
The 23-year-old Torgashev, who previously placed third at the Grand Prix de France, was thrilled with his performance set to the orchestral piece “Scheherazade,” exclaiming that he felt he “crushed it” after stepping off the ice.
Pulkinen also made a mark by securing his second consecutive bronze medal at the national championships.
