Milan, February 10, 2026 – Ilia Malinin, the American figure skater dubbed the “quad god,” secured his first Olympic gold medal today, leading Team USA to victory in the team event at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
A Calm Confidence Propels Malinin to Olympic Gold
The 19-year-old skater showcased a newfound composure in his performance, a stark contrast to earlier competitions, and is now poised to compete for individual gold.
- Malinin helped the U.S. team win gold in the team event, defeating Japan by a single point.
- He opted for a quadruple flip instead of a planned quadruple axel in his short program, executing it flawlessly.
- Malinin’s score in the short program was significantly higher than his competitors, earning him a perfect 10.0 from one judge.
- Teammates Andrew Torgashev and Maxim Naumov also delivered strong performances, achieving personal bests.
The arena buzzed with anticipation as fans, many after a 40-minute metro ride from central Milan, packed the stands to witness Malinin’s performance. This time, the pressure was solely on him. Before beginning, Malinin took several deep breaths, a visible attempt to center himself. He chose to open with a quadruple flip, landing it cleanly, followed by a triple axel and a camel spin. The highlight of his routine was a powerful combination jump – a quadruple lutz and triple toe loop – earning an impressive 22.03 points, a score unmatched by any of the other 28 athletes.
A fist pump signaled Malinin’s confidence, and his coach, Roman Skorniokov, received a celebratory slap on the back from Rafael Arutunyan, who previously coached 2022 Olympic champion Nathan Chen. Malinin then capped off his performance with a signature backflip, eliciting a roar from the crowd before taking a bow to a standing ovation.
“I really felt like I could enjoy the program and the story behind it and I was definitely having fun,” Malinin said. “I felt a little more calm, and just pushed the autopilot button to see what happens.”
Teammates Shine Amidst Personal Triumphs
Beyond Malinin’s stellar performance, the day was marked by inspiring routines from his teammates. Andrew Torgashev finished eighth, and Maxim Naumov secured 14th place, both achieving some of their best results to date.
Naumov’s journey to the Olympics is particularly poignant. The well-informed crowd recognized his story: in January 2025, his parents and coaches were tragically killed in a plane crash while returning from a skating competition. Initially unsure if he could continue, Naumov returned to the ice to coach young skaters at the Skating Club of Boston. Supported by family friends Elena and Vladimir Petrenko, and his godparents, he resumed competitive skating last summer, determined to fulfill his and his parents’ Olympic dream.
The arena was filled with support for Naumov, including Vladimir Petrenko rinkside, Elena Petrenko and her sons, Daniel and Anton, Naumov’s godbrother Nickolai Serebriakov, Victoria Zysk, and U.S. pairs champion Katie Orscher Moesgaard. Elena Petrenko, a skating coach and choreographer, mirrored Naumov’s movements from the second tier, offering silent encouragement. “Easy, easy,” she murmured during his routine. “One more, one more,” she whispered before his final spin, finally exhaling in relief as he completed his program. “We did it, we did it. This is what he wanted,” she said, tears welling in her eyes.
“I felt like I was guided by them today, feeling their presence with every glide that I made on the ice,” Naumov said of his parents.
Naumov held up a childhood photo of himself skating with his parents during the “kiss and cry” area, seeking their presence. He explained that the last conversation he had with his parents revolved around this Olympic season and increasing the difficulty of his routines. After four months of intense training, he successfully achieved the required level 4 on his spins and step sequences, qualifying him for the free skate on Feb. 13.
“I finished on my knees and I didn’t know if I was going to cry, smile or laugh,” Naumov said. “And all I could do was just look up and say, ‘look what we just did.’ I said it in English, I said it in Russian. And it’s true. We did it together.”
Andrew Torgashev also delivered a personal best performance, securing eighth place in the short program and qualifying for the free skate final.
Malinin acknowledged the pressure of the Olympics, admitting it had affected his performance in the team event. “I definitely think it was a good idea to do [both the short and free programs in] the team because I think just the short program wouldn’t have been enough to get comfortable with the ice.”
Malinin embraces the spotlight and the pressure that comes with it. “I definitely love the pressure,” he said. “It’s not just the thrill of figure skating, but the competition itself—going out here, preparing yourself so well, and having all that attention, all those eyes on you, that pressure really shows you who you truly are.”
And now, the world knows who Ilia Malinin is: the quad god.
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