Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the men's figure skating team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, on February 8, 2026. STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH / AP
US star Ilia Malinin saw off a resurgent Japan with a pulsating routine to keep the Olympic team figure skating gold in American hands on Sunday, February 8.
"Quad God" Malinin led the men's free skating final in Milan with Japan taking silver and host nation Italy claiming bronze after three days of competition.
Malinin hit five quadruple jumps, but did not deliver the first-ever quad axel jump in Olympic competition as he had promised. The 21-year-old scored 200.03 to push Japan's Shun Sato into second place with 194.86.
Ilia Malinin of the United States performs during the men's single free skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, Milano Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy, February 08, 2026. CLAUDIA GRECO / REUTERS
