Ilia Malinin Takes Command in Olympic Men's Figure Skating Short Program

Ilia Malinin shook off early Olympic jitters to deliver a commanding performance in the men's figure skating short program on Tuesday night, scoring 108.16 points to take a five-point lead over Japan's Kagiyama Yuma heading into Friday's decisive free skate at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The two-time reigning world champion landed a pair of quadruple jumps and his jaw-dropping backflip to stake his claim as the gold medal favorite at the Palavela in Turin.

The 21-year-old American's performance marked a significant rebound from his earlier showing in the team event, where the weight of Olympic expectations appeared to affect his skating. Malinin admitted after Tuesday's skate that he had been feeling intense Olympic pressure, saying the atmosphere when hitting the Olympic ice for the first time exceeded his expectations. However, his short program displayed the technical mastery and artistic flair that have made him the dominant force in men's figure skating over the past two seasons.

Malinin's highest-scoring element came from his second quad combination—a quadruple lutz followed by a triple toe loop that earned him 22.03 points, the only jump of the entire evening to surpass 20 points among all 28 competitors. The self-styled 'Quad God' also executed his signature raspberry twist and incorporated his now-famous backflip, which has become a calling card of his performances. The backflip, while not contributing to his technical score under current International Skating Union rules, added an exclamation point to a near-flawless routine that demonstrated both athletic prowess and showmanship.

Kagiyama Yuma of Japan sits in second place with 103.07 points, positioning himself as Malinin's primary challenger for gold. The Japanese skater delivered a clean program of his own and has announced plans to include a quad flip in his free skate as a tactical weapon against Malinin's technical arsenal. The five-point gap heading into the free skate is substantial but far from insurmountable, setting up a dramatic showdown on February 13 when the medals will be decided.

Malinin's chase for Olympic gold represents the culmination of a remarkable rise in men's figure skating. Since bursting onto the senior international scene, he has revolutionized the sport with his ability to land previously unthinkable quad combinations and his willingness to push technical boundaries. His two world championship titles have established him as the sport's premier talent, but an Olympic gold medal remains the one major honor missing from his growing collection.

The men's free skate on Friday promises to be one of the marquee events of the Milano Cortina Games, with Malinin heavily favored but facing stiff competition from Kagiyama and a deep field of accomplished skaters. If he can replicate Tuesday's level of technical execution while managing the Olympic pressure he acknowledged, the Quad God will likely add the sport's most prestigious prize to his already impressive résumé.