Ilia Malinin dazzled the crowd with his impressive fourth consecutive U.S. title at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis. His free skate showcased his talent and artistry, even without his signature quadruple Axel. Instead, he focused on clean jumps and sharp spins, earning a score of 209.78 in the free skate and a total of 324.88 across all events.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates made history in ice dance, winning their seventh U.S. championship. They performed a captivating flamenco routine that kept the audience engaged. Their skill shone through, with seven Level 4 elements and a stellar score of 137.17 for their free dance. “I think we delivered our best performance this year,” Bates exclaimed, highlighting the importance of building momentum as they prepare for the Olympics.
Rising stars Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik also stood out, winning silver with a personal-best score of 228.87. Zingas reflected on how past disappointments motivated them to train harder. “Last year taught us what we wanted to achieve,” she said.
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko claimed the bronze medal with a powerful performance that told a compelling story. This was their fifth medal at the U.S. Championships. “We struggled earlier this season, but we came together just in time,” Carreira shared.
Meanwhile, Caroline Green and Michael Parsons showcased their creativity through an innovative free dance. Parsons noted, “We left it all out there today.” They finished fourth and continued to build on their impressive streak at the championships.
The competition wasn’t just for seasoned athletes. Andrew Torgashev, after a rocky start, delivered a stunning free skate highlighted by two quad toe loops and earned a silver medal. He summarized his experience, saying, “The Olympic spirit is in all of us — that resilience drives us forward.”
In the men’s event, Maxim Naumov honored his late parents with a heartfelt performance. His artistry and determination were clear as he achieved his best finish at the U.S. Championships, securing bronze with a score of 249.16.
Jacob Sanchez also made a splash by moving up from seventh place with a clean and lyrical program, earning him a pewter medal. He expressed his relief and joy after performing under pressure, saying it felt almost perfect.
The overall energy at the championships was infectious, with crowds cheering loudly and providing strong support for every skater. The excitement surrounding these performances builds as these athletes now set their sights on the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan.
With so much talent on display, the future of U.S. figure skating looks bright. For full results and details, you can check the U.S. Figure Skating website.
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