Ilia Malinin Shatters Records: Reclaims World Figure Skating Championship with 6 Impressive Quadruple Jumps!

Ilia Malinin made headlines in Boston by winning his second consecutive world title at the Figure Skating Championships. He wowed the audience with six quadruple jumps in his free skate, finishing with a total of 318.56 points. This victory marks the ninth event in a row that Malinin has won since December 2023.

His nearest competitor, Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan, finished with a personal best of 287.47 points, but was still 31.09 points behind. This achievement for Malinin represents one of the largest victory margins in men’s figure skating since the current scoring system was introduced.

Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama came in third, but he slipped after a few mistakes in his free skate. On a positive note for the U.S., Jason Brown and Andrew Torgashev placed eighth and 22nd, respectively. Their performances helped the U.S. qualify the maximum number of three spots for men at the upcoming 2026 Olympics, a feat not achieved since 1984.

Malinin’s performance was historic. He executed all six types of quadruple jumps: toe loop, Salchow, loop, Lutz, Axel, and flip. This is the first time a skater has landed all six without any being called for under-rotation. However, he did double a planned quad Lutz, which was his only major mistake.

Reflecting on his performance, Malinin expressed mixed feelings. He felt excitement for winning again but also disappointment for missing the chance to land seven quads in a single program. He aims for that elusive seven-quad routine, which he considers his ideal layout. “It feels like my perfect routine,” he remarked, showing his determination to push the boundaries in future competitions.

Notably, Malinin’s success adds to a legacy of American skaters who have won the world title before going on to win Olympic gold. This includes legends like Dick Button and Nathan Chen, who both excelled at a young age.

Adding to this season’s excitement, Alysa Liu won the women’s singles, marking her own comeback after a break from competition. She is the first U.S. woman to claim a world title since 2006, highlighting a bright future for American figure skating.

As figure skating evolves, fans can expect even more thrilling performances and perhaps new records in the coming year. The stakes are high as Malinin prepares for the Olympics, where he aims to make history once again. For those interested in the world of competitive skating, updates from the final World Team Trophy competition in April will showcase the best talents in the sport.

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