US skating star Ilia Malinin leads after near-perfect short program at the Milan Cortina Olympics

Malinin lands two quads and signature moves to take five-point lead over Japan's Yuma Kagiyama

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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American figure skater Ilia Malinin delivered a near-flawless short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, scoring 108.16 points and taking a five-point lead over Japan's Yuma Kagiyama heading into the decisive free skate. Malinin landed a pair of quadruple jumps and his signature "raspberry twist" move, showcasing his technical prowess and athleticism. Kagiyama is in second place with 103.07 points, while France's Adam Siao Him Fa is third with 102.55 points, but both face an uphill battle to catch the dominant Malinin.

Why it matters

Malinin, the two-time reigning world champion, is the overwhelming favorite to win Olympic gold in men's figure skating. His dominant short program performance has only solidified his status as the skater to beat, setting up an exciting showdown in the free skate on Friday.

The details

Malinin opened his short program with a big quad flip and landed a perfect triple axel, saving his quad axel - the only skater to have landed it - for the free skate. He also executed a quad lutz-triple toe loop combination that scored over 22 points. Kagiyama nearly matched Malinin's technical prowess, but a step-out on his final triple axel jump cost him valuable points.

  • Malinin and Kagiyama will compete in the decisive free skate on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Malinin clinched a team gold medal for the United States last weekend.

The players

Ilia Malinin

A 17-year-old American figure skater and the two-time reigning world champion, known for his technical prowess and ability to land multiple quad jumps.

Yuma Kagiyama

A 19-year-old Japanese figure skater and the reigning Olympic silver medalist, known for his artistry and technical skills.

Adam Siao Him Fa

A 22-year-old French figure skater who was the last skater to beat Malinin more than two years ago.

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What they’re saying

“In the team event, I think I had too much, I'll call it, 'Olympic excitement.' It really just felt like there was so much pressure. I was so hyped up, so excited to skate out there and it really came back and beat me.”

— Ilia Malinin (wklh.com)

“This is sports. You never know what is going to happen.”

— Yuma Kagiyama (wklh.com)

“I'm coming in as the favorite, but being the favorite is one thing; actually earning it under pressure is another. I don't take it for granted that I'm getting the gold, of course. I still have to put in the work for the long program.”

— Ilia Malinin (wklh.com)

What’s next

Malinin and Kagiyama will compete in the decisive free skate on Friday, February 14, 2026, where Malinin will look to solidify his status as the favorite for Olympic gold.

The takeaway

Ilia Malinin's dominant short program performance has cemented his status as the skater to beat at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the free skate will be crucial as he looks to claim his first Olympic gold medal and cement his legacy as one of the greatest figure skaters of his generation.