Malinin to Defend World Figure Skating Title in Prague

The 21-year-old American Olympian will compete to retain his world championship next month.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old American figure skater who won the world title last year, has decided to defend his championship at the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships in Prague next month. Malinin disappointed at the recent Winter Olympics, failing to win gold, but will now have a chance to bounce back and face off against his rival Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, who won Olympic gold.

Why it matters

Malinin has become a rising star in figure skating, and his decision to defend his world title will be a highly anticipated event as he looks to regain his momentum after the Olympic letdown. The matchup between Malinin and Shaidorov, the new Olympic champion, will be a preview of what could be a rivalry that defines the next four years leading up to the 2030 Olympics.

The details

After winning the world title last year in Boston, Malinin will now have the chance to defend his crown at the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague starting on March 23rd. Malinin's agent confirmed that the 21-year-old American will be competing, setting up a showdown with Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov, who surprisingly won Olympic gold in Milan over Malinin and Japan's Yuma Kagiyama.

  • The 2023 World Figure Skating Championships will take place in Prague starting on March 23rd.
  • Ilia Malinin won the world title in Boston a year ago.

The players

Ilia Malinin

A 21-year-old American figure skater who is the reigning world champion and will be looking to defend his title in Prague next month.

Mikhail Shaidorov

A 21-year-old figure skater from Kazakhstan who won the Olympic gold medal in Milan, defeating Malinin and Japan's Yuma Kagiyama.

Yuma Kagiyama

A Japanese figure skater who won the silver medal at the recent Olympics, finishing behind Shaidorov and ahead of Malinin.

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What’s next

The 2023 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague will begin on March 23rd, where Ilia Malinin will look to defend his world title against a field that will include his Olympic rival Mikhail Shaidorov.

The takeaway

Malinin's decision to defend his world title sets up a highly anticipated showdown between the American and Kazakhstan's Shaidorov, the new Olympic champion. Their rivalry could define the next four years leading up to the 2030 Olympics, as both skaters are just entering their prime years.