Ilia Malinin Leads Men's Short Program at Milan Olympics
Malinin scored 108.16 in the short program and holds a five-point lead ahead of the Feb. 13, 2026, free skate.
Overview
Ilia Malinin, 21, scored 108.16 points to lead the men's short program at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026, landing two quadruple jumps and a quad lutz–triple toe that judges credited with 22.03 points, records show.
Malinin's result gives him a five-point advantage over Japan's Yuma Kagiyama, who scored 103.07, and positions him as the favorite going into the free skate on Feb. 13, 2026, after Malinin helped the United States win team gold, records show.
Malinin said in the kiss-and-cry area that he "pushed the autopilot button" and felt calmer than in the team event, while Yuma Kagiyama said through an interpreter, "You never know what is going to happen," according to rink translators.
Twenty-nine skaters competed in the short program, with Adam Siao Him Fa of France third on 102.55 and U.S. skater Maxim Naumov advancing with 85.65 after his parents were killed in a plane crash in Jan. 2025, the International Skating Union's results show.
The men's free skate is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2026, and Malinin said he plans to reset mentally and pursue a more difficult long program, while officials and judges will finalize rankings based on the free skate results.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present Malinin as the dominant favorite through celebratory language, selective emphasis on technical feats and crowd reaction, and heavy use of his quotes. Editorial choices—phrases like “the surest thing in figure skating,” placement of emotional human-interest moments, and limited voice from rivals—create a largely celebratory, advantage-focused narrative.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Malinin landed a quad flip (14.77 points) and a quad lutz-triple toe loop combination (22.03 points), earning a total score of 108.16.
History
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