Malinin Wins Fourth Skate America Title

Ilia Malinin won his fourth Skate America title in Everett, scoring 284.31 points to beat Italy’s Daniel Grassl by 9.58 points; Israel’s Tamir Kuperman placed third in his senior Grand Prix debut. Malinin led the short program with 96.74 points despite an error on his quad Lutz, then finished second in the free skate; he attempted six quads overall, landing three cleanly, and did not attempt his signature quad Axel. His short program, set to “Cantata Memoria,” honored members of the skating community killed in a 2025 midair collision, and he said he wants to develop his artistry and an identity beyond his technical reputation. The win opens a new competitive cycle after his eighth-place finish in the individual event at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where he earned U.S. team gold, and his subsequent third consecutive world title. He is scheduled to compete next at Japan’s NHK Trophy, where a podium finish would likely qualify him for the Grand Prix Final.