Men’s figure skating: Malinin edges Kagiyama 108.16-103.07 in Olympic short program

Ilia Malinin edges Yuma Kagiyama with a commanding 108.16 score in the men’s figure skating short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The American “Quad God” dominated the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Tuesday evening, building a massive five-point lead heading into Friday’s free skate competition.

Malinin’s Dominant Performance Silences Olympic Doubts

The two-time world champion delivered a nearly flawless routine set to music from “The Lost Crown.” Malinin executed two clean quadruple jumps, including a quad flip and quad Lutz combination, along with a triple Axel. His composed performance contrasted sharply with his tentative skating in the team event earlier this week.

Known as the “Quad God,” Malinin remains the only skater to land a quad Axel in competition. He earned a standing ovation from the crowd as he delivered dynamic moves including his signature Raspberry Twist and backflip in the final minute of his program.

Kagiyama’s Refined Program Keeps Medal Dreams Alive

Yuma Kagiyama delivered one of the finest short programs of the evening, showcasing refined musicality and edge quality throughout his “I Wish” routine. The Olympic silver medalist skated with remarkable poise, though he stepped out of his triple Axel early, preventing a higher score.

Kagiyama’s 103.07 points keep him very much in contention for gold in the free skate. His polished technical execution and artistic presentation demonstrate why the Japanese champion remains Malinin’s closest challenger for the Olympic title on Friday.

Men’s Figure Skating Short Program Top Finishers

“For my long program, I’m really going to take everything nice and slow. One step at a time, and not get too ahead of myself.”

— Ilia Malinin, Two-time World Champion

USA Team Strength in Men’s Figure Skating Deepens

Beyond Malinin’s commanding lead, two additional American skaters qualified for the free skate. Andrew Torgashev delivered a personal best 88.94 points with a program featuring a gorgeous quad toe-loop. Meanwhile, Maxim Naumov made his Olympic debut with an emotional 85.65-point performance honoring his parents.

Naumov held up a photo of his parents in the Kiss and Cry section, skating to “Nocturne No. 20” by Frederic Chopin after their tragic passing. The three Americans represent Team USA’s strongest showing in men’s figure skating at these Games.

What’s Next: Can Kagiyama or Others Mount Friday’s Challenge?

With a five-point lead heading into Friday’s free skate, Malinin appears to be in control of the gold medal race. However, figure skating competitions have produced shocking upsets. Kagiyama’s refined artistry and technical prowess keep him the most dangerous threat to the American’s Olympic crown. Other skilled competitors like Adam Siao Him Fa and Daniel Grassl remain wild cards for medals.

The men’s free skate competitions conclude Friday, February 13 at 1 p.m. local time when the final group of competitors battle for Olympic honors. Malinin’s near-perfect short program has virtually guaranteed his progression to the medal round, where he’ll look to capture Team USA’s figure skating gold.

Michael Brown

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