The American figure skater known as the Quad God has officially arrived at the 2026 Winter Olympics. After struggling with nerves during the team event, Malinin delivered a masterclass performance in the men’s short program on February 10 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, scoring 108.16 points to take a commanding five-point lead over Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama.
The 21-year-old from Vienna, Virginia, admitted he underestimated the weight of Olympic pressure during his earlier performances. His short program in the team event had left fans questioning whether the heavy favorite could handle the biggest stage in sports. Those doubts evaporated Tuesday night when Malinin attacked his routine with the confidence and precision that earned him back-to-back world championships.
Malinin Unleashes Technical Brilliance Under Pressure
Opening with a massive quadruple flip, Malinin immediately set the tone for his redemption skate. He followed with a flawless triple axel, the same jump that haunted him in the team competition. But the highlight came with his quad lutz-triple toe combination, which earned an eye-popping 22 points, the highest-scoring combination of the entire night. The technical execution left no doubt about his superiority in the field, impressing judges and fans alike who had gathered from around the world to witness this high-level display of figure skating mastery.
The two-time world champion also incorporated his signature backflip, a move banned from official scoring but guaranteed to electrify crowds. While the flip adds nothing to his technical score, it showcases the showmanship and fearlessness that defines Malinin as a skater. The Milano crowd erupted as he landed the forbidden move, cementing his status as figure skating’s most daring performer.
Kagiyama and Siao Him Fa Round Out Top Three
Japan’s Kagiyama, the two-time Olympic silver medalist who had bested Malinin in the team event short program by more than 10 points, finished second with 103.07. A single mistake on his triple axel, typically his easiest jump, cost him precious points. Despite completing a seemingly effortless quad toe-triple toe combination and a quad salchow, Kagiyama couldn’t match the American’s firepower.
France’s Adam Siao Him Fa claimed third place with 102.55 points, looking revitalized after a difficult season. The skater who once beat Malinin at the start of the 2023 season showed flashes of his podium-worthy form, though he remains a long shot for medal contention heading into the free skate.
The Road to Gold Runs Through Friday
Malinin left some points on the table, earning only level 3 ratings on his flying sit spin and step sequence compared to Kagiyama’s level 4 marks. But those minor deductions mean little when the gap between first and second place stands at five points. The Boston-based skater plans to approach the free skate methodically, taking things one step at a time without getting ahead of himself.
The men’s medals will be decided Friday when competition resumes with the free skate. Malinin has withheld his most powerful weapon, the quad axel, which would mark the first such jump in Olympic history if he attempts it. Whether he needs that historic move to secure gold remains uncertain, but fans worldwide will be watching to see if the Quad God can deliver an Olympic moment for the ages.
His coach Rafael Arutyunyan, who also guided Nathan Chen to Olympic gold four years ago, asked his student after the performance if that truly felt different this time. The answer was obvious to everyone in the arena. Malinin had rediscovered the joy and confidence that makes him the most exciting skater on the planet. The pressure that weighed him down during the team event transformed into fuel for one of the most dominant short program performances in recent Olympic history.
