Malinin Secures Olympic Gold for US in Dramatic Figure Skating Team Event
The United States reclaimed its position atop the figure skating world, winning gold in the team event on Sunday after a nail-biting competition marked by unexpected twists and turns. The victory, secured in Milan, was particularly poignant given the delayed celebration following the 2022 competition’s disqualification of the Russian Olympic Committee due to a doping violation.
A Tense Final Day
The American team entered the final day of competition with a narrow five-point lead, but quickly found themselves in a tie with Japan as the pressure mounted. All eyes turned to Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old, two-time world champion, making his Olympic debut. Malinin had stumbled during Saturday’s short program, a rare occurrence for the skater known as the “Quad God,” finishing in second place after stepping out of a triple axel and under-rotating a quad lutz.
“I was more nervous watching Ilia than I was [skating] myself,” confessed a U.S. team captain and pairs skater, highlighting the weight of expectation on the young athlete’s shoulders.
Malinin Delivers Under Pressure
Despite the earlier struggles, Malinin rose to the occasion, landing an astounding five quadruple jumps in his free skate and scoring 200.03 points. While he didn’t attempt his signature quadruple axel – a jump he is the only skater in history to land in competition – it proved more than sufficient. His performance, set to a dramatic soundtrack that included his own spoken voice, captivated the audience, culminating in a now-signature backflip that drew a stunned reaction from tennis legend Novak Djokovic in the stands.
Malinin’s score propelled the United States to a final tally of 69 points, narrowly edging out Japan’s 68. “We came here to do one job, and we achieved it,” Malinin stated confidently after his performance.
Japan Fights to the Finish
The competition wasn’t over until the final skate. Japan’s Shun Sato took to the ice with a chance to steal the gold, delivering a clean skate with three quadruple jumps. However, his score of 194.86 points wasn’t enough to overcome the American lead. The Japanese team offered Sato support as his score was announced, while the Americans erupted in celebration.
Italy Claims Bronze
Italy secured the bronze medal with 60 points, thanks to an emotional and nearly flawless program from Matteo Rizzo. The Italian team’s joy was palpable, marking only the third Olympic medal for the nation in figure skating.
A Long-Awaited Ceremony
This victory marks the second Olympic gold for the Americans in the team event. However, this celebration was particularly meaningful, as the team finally received their medals in Paris in 2024 – more than two years after initially winning the competition in 2022, only to have the results overturned.
Key Performances Throughout the Competition
The American success wasn’t solely reliant on Malinin’s final performance. Madison Chock and Evan Bates, three-time reigning ice dance world champions, contributed significantly, winning both the short program and free dance and earning a crucial 20 points for the team. Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea also delivered a strong performance in the pairs program, exceeding expectations after a fifth-place finish in the short program and helping to maintain the American lead.
The women’s free skate saw Amber Glenn make her Olympic debut, stepping in as a substitution for Alysa Liu. Despite a shaky start, Glenn rallied to finish in third place with a score of 138.62. Kaori Sakamoto of Japan topped the women’s free skate with 148.62 points, briefly tying the competition before Malinin’s decisive performance.
Sakamoto, reflecting on the competition, emphasized the team spirit, stating, “In my eyes, everybody has done a gold medal performance, and so it really doesn’t matter what color medal we get.”
