Malinin Wins Fourth Skate America Title

Ilia Malinin won Skate America for the fourth time, opening his season with 284.31 points and a 9.58-point victory over Italy’s Daniel Grassl. He led the short program with 96.74 points despite an error on his quad Lutz, then finished second in the free skate; across both programs he attempted six quads and landed three cleanly, without attempting his signature quad Axel. The result began a new competitive cycle after his eighth-place finish at the Milan Olympics and his subsequent third straight world title, with Malinin saying he wants to push his artistry and develop an identity beyond his technical reputation. His short program, set to “Cantata Memoria,” honored members of the skating community killed in a 2025 midair collision. Malinin is set to compete next at NHK Trophy, where a podium finish would likely qualify him for the Grand Prix Final.