Ilia Malinin and Team USA Eye Individual Glory After Securing Figure Skating Team Gold

Ilia Malinin, nicknamed the 'Quad God' for his revolutionary jumping ability, takes center stage in the men's short program at Milano Cortina 2026 on Tuesday, February 10, following his heroic performance in helping Team USA secure their second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the figure skating team event. The 20-year-old American star now shifts focus to individual competition where he faces fierce competition from Japan's Yuma Kagiyama.

Malinin secured Team USA's team event gold with a spectacular free skate performance that earned 200.03 points and broke an overall team tie with Japan. The performance featured five of his trademark quadruple jumps, showcasing the technical mastery that has made him one of figure skating's most exciting performers. Notably, Malinin achieved this victory without attempting the quadruple axel he pioneered and popularized, demonstrating his deep arsenal of skills.

The individual men's competition presents a new challenge for Malinin, who finished second to Kagiyama in the team event's short program segment. The Japanese skater posted a commanding 108.67 points compared to Malinin's 98.00 in that earlier performance, setting up an intriguing rivalry for individual medals. Both skaters have proven they can deliver under Olympic pressure, making the men's event one of the most anticipated competitions at Milano Cortina.

Malinin's Olympic debut has also been marked by history-making moments beyond his jumping prowess. He performed a backflip during his routines, becoming one of the few skaters to execute the once-banned move at the Olympics. While the backflip made headlines and thrilled audiences, Malinin's true strength lies in his ability to land multiple quadruple jumps with consistency and precision.

Team USA's figure skating team has been a dominant force at Milano Cortina 2026, with Malinin receiving crucial support from ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who delivered a masterclass free dance performance that earned maximum points. The team victory has given American figure skating significant momentum as individual events progress.

As the men's short program unfolds on Tuesday, all eyes will be on whether Malinin can match Kagiyama's earlier scoring and position himself for gold medal contention. The individual competition runs through the free skate later in the week, promising more spectacular displays from the world's best male figure skaters. For Malinin, an individual Olympic gold would cement his status as one of the sport's all-time greats.