Ilia Malinin emerges as defining figure of men’s skating ahead of Milan Cortina Olympics

ST. LOUIS (JN) – Ilia Malinin’s rise has been rapid, relentless and, increasingly, historic. At just 20, the American figure skater has separated himself from his peers with a combination of technical difficulty, competitive consistency and evolving artistry rarely seen in the sport.

With two world titles, an unbeaten streak stretching nearly two years and scores that rival the highest ever recorded, Malinin enters the final stretch before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as the sport’s clear reference point. What remains untested is how that dominance translates to the Olympic stage, where pressure often reshapes even the most assured careers.

Malinin’s credentials are already substantial. He has won the past two world championships, including a commanding performance in Boston last year, and claimed four consecutive U.S. national titles, most recently in St. Louis earlier this month. Across Grand Prix events, finals and domestic competitions, he has not lost since early 2024.

Those results place him in rare company. Several of his scores approach the benchmark set by fellow American Nathan Chen, whose 335.30 total from the 2019 Grand Prix Final remains a modern standard. Malinin’s personal best of 333.81, posted this season, underscored how close he is to redefining the upper limits of men’s skating.

“He’s a whole different factor,” U.S. teammate Amber Glenn said. “He’s incredibly talented, but he’s also one of the hardest workers out there.”

A family shaped by elite skating

Malinin’s path into figure skating was shaped long before his first international medal. His mother, Tatiana Malinina, competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics for Uzbekistan and won the Grand Prix Final a year later. His father, Roman Skorniakov, represented Uzbekistan at both the 1998 and 2002 Games.

The lineage extends another generation. Malinin’s grandfather, Valery Malinin, skated for the Soviet Union and continues to coach in Russia. Elite competition was a constant presence rather than an aspiration.

Even so, Malinin’s early interests were broader. He gravitated toward soccer as a child and spent long hours at rinks simply following his parents. His commitment to skating sharpened only once his jump ability began to stand out, particularly as he advanced through junior levels.

That breakthrough came after disappointment. In 2022, Malinin was left off the U.S. Olympic team for Beijing, a decision largely attributed to his age and limited senior experience rather than performance potential. Weeks later, he won the junior world title, a result that reframed his trajectory.

Building a championship system

Following that season, Malinin added veteran coach Rafael Arutyunyan to his team. Arutyunyan, who guided Chen to Olympic gold in Beijing, helped transition Malinin from junior promise to senior dominance. The results were immediate: a U.S. title, Grand Prix victories and a steady accumulation of major medals.

“Ilia challenges himself constantly,” Arutyunyan said. “The key is keeping everyone working with him aligned, especially as expectations rise.”

Those expectations have intensified as the Milan Cortina Games approach. Malinin now carries multiple corporate endorsements and features prominently in NBC’s Olympic coverage, elevating his public profile alongside his competitive obligations.

Managing that balance has become central to his preparation. In an interview with The Associated Press, Malinin said his team has spent months planning a structured approach to training and competition, designed to peak during the Olympic window rather than earlier in the season.

Technical ceiling, expanding range

On the ice, Malinin continues to push boundaries. He opened the season by winning the Lombardia Trophy, then dominated both the Grand Prix de France and Skate Canada. At the latter event, his winning margin over Estonia’s Aleksandr Selevko approached 80 points, a gap rarely seen at elite level.

Even when adjusting equipment — including a recent change of skates that prompted a more conservative free skate at nationals — Malinin has remained comfortably ahead of the field.

His reputation rests most visibly on the quad axel, a 4½-rotation jump no other skater has landed in international competition. Yet coaches and choreographers emphasize that his development now extends beyond technical milestones.

“He puts in time before and after every session,” said choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne. “He doesn’t just want to repeat what he can already do. He’s always looking for the next challenge.”

That approach has produced signature elements such as the “raspberry twist” and complex spin sequences that combine speed, balance and originality. Judges have increasingly rewarded that range, reflecting the sport’s gradual shift toward blending difficulty with presentation.

Olympic pressure ahead

For all his achievements, the Olympics remain an unanswered question. Malinin will be competing at his first Winter Games, where expectations will be shaped not only by his résumé but by comparisons to past American champions.

Teammates say his maturity has evolved alongside his results. Jason Brown, a two-time Olympian, described Malinin as more composed and grounded than earlier in his career, attributes often decisive in Olympic competition.

“He’s grown up a lot, on and off the ice,” Brown said. “Everyone’s behind him.”

Whether that support translates into Olympic success will be determined in Milan and Cortina. Until then, Malinin’s position is clear: he enters the final year before the Games not as a contender in a crowded field, but as the skater others are chasing.