U.S. figure skating sensation Ilia Malinin is set to begin the pre-Winter Olympic season on Friday, competing in the first event of the six-leg ISU Grand Prix series at Skate America in Texas. Japan’s three-time women’s world champion Kaori Sakamoto will take center stage the following week at Skate Canada in Halifax, where Malinin is also scheduled to compete.
Malinin captured his first world title last season with a remarkable quadruple-jumping free skate in Montreal, finishing over 20 points ahead of his competition. Known as the “Quad God” for being the first skater to land a quadruple axel in competition, the 19-year-old is the pre-Olympic favorite after the retirement of Japan’s two-time world champion and three-time Olympic medallist, Uno Shoma.
“I always strive to improve and push my limits,” Malinin stated ahead of his attempt to secure a third consecutive Skate America gold.
Malinin recently warmed up for the season at the Lombardia Trophy in Italy, where he dominated once again, winning gold by a margin of over 20 points ahead of Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama. Kagiyama, a three-time world silver medallist and double Olympic silver medallist, acknowledged the challenge of competing against Malinin. “The gap between us was clear last season, but this year, I aim to close that gap and even surpass him,” Kagiyama remarked.
Both Sakamoto and Kagiyama are scheduled to compete in the NHK Trophy in Tokyo from November 8-10. Kagiyama will also participate in the Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki from November 15-17.
