Ilia Malinin displayed his superior figure skating skills at the Winter Olympics, emphasizing his continuous drive for improvement. The United States’ world champion dominated the competition in Angers, France, securing a remarkable victory with a substantial 40-point lead.
Malinin, also known as the “Quad God,” executed five quadruple jumps flawlessly during his free skate routine, with only a minor under-rotation as a slight imperfection. Despite his outstanding performance, Malinin remains ambitious, expressing his belief in further enhancements and learnings from the event to elevate his future performances.
His remarkable win extended his unbeaten streak to nearly two years since his defeat by Adam Siao Him Fa in November 2023. Malinin’s exceptional total score of 321 points surpassed Siao’s 280.95, securing him the top position. Despite a commendable recovery by Siao from fifth place after the short program, surpassing Malinin’s dominance seemed unattainable.
In the men’s competition, Nika Egadze of Georgia secured third place with a score of 259.41, followed by Lukas Britschgi of Switzerland in fourth with 10 points behind. Japan’s Kao Miura, initially in third place, dropped to 10th position after two falls, while Tatsuya Tsuboi from Japan descended from fourth to seventh place.
On a different note, France’s ice dance champions, Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry, clinched their first Grand Prix victory after a remarkable performance following the rhythm dance. They scored 211.02 points, surpassing overnight leaders Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Britain, who settled for second place with 210.24 points. Lithuania’s Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius claimed third place with a score of 201.05.
The Grand Prix of France, the initial event of the season, sets the stage for the upcoming Grand Prix competitions leading to the final in December. This competition serves as a crucial assessment for skaters aiming for success at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February. Live coverage of the Grand Prix season is available on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem, offering viewers a front-row seat to the thrilling performances by top figure skaters.
Lastly, the event presented a platform for Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron to showcase their talents and secure their gold medal, marking a significant milestone in their partnership. Fournier Beaudry, previously paired with Nikolaj Soerensen, joined forces with Cizeron in January, overcoming past challenges and aiming for excellence in their new journey together.