American figure skater Ilia Malinin has defended his world title with another impressive performance, but the 20-year-old is already looking to perfection. After landing six quadruple jumps and a quad Axel in competition for the first time, Malinin fell short of his goal due to not landing all seven quadruple jumps.
Malinin’s technical ceiling is far above the rest of the field, making him nearly unbeatable on difficulty alone. He refers to it as the “perfect layout,” a configuration that includes six recognized quads and the quad Axel. Despite winning easily in previous competitions with a similar program, Malinin left unsatisfied due to under-rotated jumps.
He returned to his home rink to drill the layout relentlessly, scaling back was never on the table. Malinin’s plan has always been about pushing limits, treating figure skating’s most daunting elements like a checklist. With victory nearly assured, he’s turned the test inward, building obstacles only he can clear.
The hunger for perfection hasn’t just been physical but mental as well. Malinin talks about muscle memory and trusting his work, surrendering to instinct when music starts. He feels confident on the ice and inside, approaching competitions mentally with a newfound flow state.
With the Olympic season on the horizon, the spotlight will grow. The United States will head to Milan as clear favorites in the team event, claiming three of four gold medals at a world championships for the first time ever. Malinin is looking forward to it, saying it’s a different type of energy with his team to support him.
For now, he’ll focus on rest and preparation before an exhibition in Japan next week, where he can enjoy performing without pressure. The building begins again: new programs, new strategies – and the same goal he’s chased all year.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/30/ilia-malinin-quadruple-jumps-figure-skating-quad-go