American figure skater Ilia Malinin, known as the Quad God, delivered a crucial performance in the men's free skate to help Team USA clinch gold in the Olympic team figure skating event at the Milan-Cortina Games. Despite an earlier setback in the short program, Malinin's score of 200.03 points edged out Japan's Shun Sato, securing victory in a tight competition with Japan. The win marks back-to-back golds for the United States in the event.
The Milan-Cortina Olympics highlighted 21-year-old Ilia Malinin from Virginia as a standout in men's figure skating, earning him the nickname Quad God for his ability to land the quadruple axel, first achieved in 2022—a feat no other skater has matched. As a two-time world champion and first-time Olympian, Malinin entered the team event regarded as the most technically gifted skater, often compared to Simone Biles in gymnastics for pushing the sport's boundaries.
The team event, introduced in 2014, involves eight segments across men's, women's, pairs, and ice dance disciplines, awarding points from 10 for first place downward. On Saturday, Malinin placed second in the men's short program, outscored by 10 points by Japan's Yuma Kagiyama, but Team USA maintained a one-point lead after Madison Chock and Evan Bates' strong ice dance performance.
Sunday's women's free skate saw Amber Glenn finish third with a choppy routine, tying the United States and Japan at 59 points heading into the men's free skate. Though not originally scheduled, Malinin stepped up as the closer for Team USA's bid for consecutive golds. Skating in a black-and-gold costume, he executed five clean quadruple jumps, omitting his signature quad axel, with a minor stumble and hand placement. His 200.03 points, below his personal best, kept the U.S. in contention.
Japan's Shun Sato, 22, responded with a career-best routine, but his 194.86 points fell short, allowing Team USA to win gold. A Team USA tweet celebrated: "Ilia Malinin scored 200.03 points to secure the team event gold at the #WinterOlympics!"
Malinin's individual short program is set for Tuesday, facing Kagiyama again.
