Ilia Malinin Captivates the Figure Skating Community: What’s Next for This Rising Star?

WICHITA, Kansas — Figure skaters often say their real competition is themselves. This is especially true for Ilia Malinin at the U.S. Championships.

The reigning world champion stands out on the national stage. In Saturday’s short program, he dominated, winning by 19.14 points. Andrew Torgashev took second, with Jimmy Ma finishing third, 3.03 points behind Torgashev.

Malinin scored an impressive 114.08, surpassing his previous best at nationals by over three points. “I was pretty surprised by the score,” he admitted. “I expected something around 110 or 109.” His performances often seem effortless, which may even lead him to underestimate their impact on judges.

He tends to surprise fans when he doesn’t perform his most difficult jumps. In this program, he opted for a quad flip and a quad Lutz-triple toe loop combination instead of his signature quad Axel. “There’s pressure to do the quad Axel at every competition,” he explained. “But I trust myself and know what’s best for my body.”

Malinin feels a responsibility to be cautious, especially with the 2026 Olympics on the horizon. He said, “I have to play it safe for now, but after the Olympics, I’ll really go for it.”

Jimmy Ma, who has skated for over a decade, sees Malinin as a remarkable talent. “I don’t think of it as competition anymore,” Ma shared. “It’s an honor just to skate alongside people like him.”

At just 20, Malinin has set several milestones in the sport. He was the first to land a quad Axel in competition and the first to perform six quadruple jumps in a free skate. This unique skill set gives him a clear advantage, making his performances tough to beat — he has won seven straight contests.

Malinin’s style diverges from traditional balletic movements. He prefers contemporary music and powerful choreography. “I want to create a new form of entertainment,” he said. Recently, he introduced the “raspberry twist,” an impressive butterfly jump that showcases his athleticism.

On Saturday, Malinin felt he executed his best performance yet, showing his commitment to pushing the sport to new heights.