US Figure Skater Ilia Malinin Stuns Crowds with Record-Breaking Short Program
In a dazzling display of athleticism and artistry, 21-year-old US figure skater Ilia Malinin electrified the crowd at the US Championships in St Louis on Thursday. The Virginia native's short program was nothing short of breathtaking, featuring a quad flip, a quad Lutz-triple toe loop, and an audacious back flip that left spectators on their feet.
Malinin's performance not only wowed the audience but also catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard, with 115.10 points heading into Saturday's free skate. Tomoki Hiwatashi trails in second place with 89.26, while Jason Brown is third with 88.49.
The young skater credited his impressive performance to a desire to "impress myself" and not hold back on his choreography. Malinin's journey to the top has been nothing short of remarkable, as he overcame being cut from the US team four years ago to become one of the most dominant forces in figure skating.
Malinin's emotional connection to the sport is palpable, and he credited his past heartbreak for fueling his current success. "That was such a hard moment for me to go through, but it made me the skater I am today," he said.
Meanwhile, Madison Chock and Evan Bates are well on their way to securing their seventh ice dance title at the US Championships. The married couple delivered a flawless performance, showcasing their signature fluidity and connection. With a free dance to come on Saturday, the duo is poised to claim another record-breaking victory.
The US figure skating team is shaping up to be one of the strongest in years, with both Malinin and Chock/Bates primed for success at the upcoming Winter Olympics. Will either skater take home gold? Only time will tell.
In a dazzling display of athleticism and artistry, 21-year-old US figure skater Ilia Malinin electrified the crowd at the US Championships in St Louis on Thursday. The Virginia native's short program was nothing short of breathtaking, featuring a quad flip, a quad Lutz-triple toe loop, and an audacious back flip that left spectators on their feet.
Malinin's performance not only wowed the audience but also catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard, with 115.10 points heading into Saturday's free skate. Tomoki Hiwatashi trails in second place with 89.26, while Jason Brown is third with 88.49.
The young skater credited his impressive performance to a desire to "impress myself" and not hold back on his choreography. Malinin's journey to the top has been nothing short of remarkable, as he overcame being cut from the US team four years ago to become one of the most dominant forces in figure skating.
Malinin's emotional connection to the sport is palpable, and he credited his past heartbreak for fueling his current success. "That was such a hard moment for me to go through, but it made me the skater I am today," he said.
Meanwhile, Madison Chock and Evan Bates are well on their way to securing their seventh ice dance title at the US Championships. The married couple delivered a flawless performance, showcasing their signature fluidity and connection. With a free dance to come on Saturday, the duo is poised to claim another record-breaking victory.
The US figure skating team is shaping up to be one of the strongest in years, with both Malinin and Chock/Bates primed for success at the upcoming Winter Olympics. Will either skater take home gold? Only time will tell.
I gotta say, 115.10 points from Ilia Malinin is a bit underwhelming considering he's been training since he was like, 3 lol. And what's up with all this talk about his emotional connection to the sport? It's just figure skating, you know? 
! The kid's got some serious skills, but what's crazy is how far he's come from being cut from the team 4 years ago 
. His emotional connection to figure skating is so real, it gives me chills 
. Madison Chock and Evan Bates are looking strong too, I love their ice dance routines 
️. It's gonna be an intense competition at the Olympics, but I'm rooting for Ilia - he's got that hunger and determination 
! Can't wait to see what he brings to the free skate 
. It's like, you're gonna put a damper on my excitement or something. And can we please ditch the superfluous quotes from athletes after their performances? "That was such a hard moment for me..." yadda yadda... just give us the highlights, you know? 
Also, why do they always have to use such generic, boring music for their introductions? It's not like we haven't heard it a million times before 
.
anyway can't wait for saturday's free skate and hopefully we'll get to see even more of that magic 
. It's not just about the technical skills, but that emotional connection he has with the sport is what sets him apart.
. They're a true team, both on and off the ice, and it shows in their flawless performances. Their chemistry is undeniable, and they're always pushing each other to be better 
. With Ilia's determination and the Chocks/Bates' skill, I'm expecting some incredible things from the US figure skating team at the Olympics! 
anyway gotta give him props for overcoming those struggles in the past, it's not always easy to bounce back from being cut from the team four years ago. and omg madison chock and evan bates are still killing the ice dance game, I swear they're like the dynamic duo of us figure skating 
Skating dude Ilia Malinin just brought his A-game and SLAYED it! I mean, a quad flip, a quad Lutz-triple toe loop, and a back flip?! That's like a triple axel of awesomeness 
. And can we talk about how he's turned that heartbreak into CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD? 
. Team USA is looking strong this year! 
gotta see some sources on this one 