Ilia Malinin in command at Skate Canada, on the cusp of sweeping first two Grand Prix events of skating season
The reigning world champion has a 10-point lead after the short program just days after claiming the Skate America title in the Dallas area. In ice dance, home hopes Gilles and Poirier are ahead.
Figure Skating
It's been 25 years since a men's singles skater claimed the first two Grand Prix events of the figure skating season.
Reigning world champion Ilia Malinin is on the cusp of breaking that streak.
The 19-year-old American claimed his third consecutive Skate America title to open the Grand Prix Series last week (20 October), and Saturday (26 October) threw down his marker in the men's short program at Skate Canada International in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The "Quad God," as Malinin is known for his big-jumping ways, delivered some of his best skating for a 106.22, building a 10-point advantage over Sato Shun of Japan at 96.52. Reigning Skate Canada champion Yamamoto Sota is third with a 92.16.
Alexei Yagudin won Skate America and Canada in 1999, marking the most recent - and only - time a men's skater has claimed the opening two Grand Prix events of a season. It's a rare schedule: Skaters only compete at two Grand Prix events in order to try and qualify for the mid-season Grand Prix Final.
"This week I came in with a whole different mindset," Malinin said of his back-to-back Grand Prix appearances. "I wanted to minimise my mistakes; I'm really proud of what I was able to do today. I was really relaxed on the ice."
"I was trying to train specifically for these back-to-back weeks, doing a short and free every other day."
2023 world medallist Cha Junhwan of the Republic of Korea is fourth (88.32), while veteran Jason Brown is seventh after a fall on his triple Axel attempt (79.03).
Earlier, in the ice dance rhythm dance, home hopes Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier built a nine-point advantage with their 86.44, leading compatriots Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha (77.34). Gilles/Poirier are seeking a fifth consecutive win at this event.
Ilia Malinin looks to match mother in Halifax, too
It's not just the Yagudin history that Malinin is trying to match. He's also looking to emulate his mother, Tatiana Malinina. The former skater for Uzbekistan claimed the Four Continents title in 1999, as well, with that event also held in Halifax.
Malinina has a coaching role alongside Ilia's father, Roman Skorniakov, but she rarely travels to events, and often waits days to watch his programs on TV because she gets so nervous.
"I'm very grateful to have both my parents as my coaches," he said. "They have a lot of experience."
Sato and Yamamoto continued to show the strength of the Japanese men even after the retirement of Uno Shoma, the two-time world champion, in the off-season. Kagiyama Yuma, the Beijing 2022 Olympic silver medallist, leads the charge.
"We are very, very deep in the Japanese men's ranks," Sato confirmed. "I'm not really sure where I would put myself in the rankings, but... thanks to that depth, all the competitors have improved [our own skating]."
There are six Japanese men competing on the Grand Prix this season, more than any other nation.
"The level is really high," Yamamoto added. "But for me it's about raising my own level versus how I'm going against other people."
Canada's Stephen Gogolev had a strong showing, scoring a 82.70 to sit fifth.
The American, Brown, is back on the Grand Prix for the first time since 2021. He told Olympics.com last week that his return to the Series is all about ramping up in trying to make the U.S. team for Milano Cortina 2026.
He said he'll use Saturday as a learning experience.
"I'm used to feeling so consistent, so sure of myself, so strong," he told reporters. "I still expect that same perfection... a no-miss mentality. Coming in this early [in the season], I'm in a bit more of a vulnerable spot.
"We're going to keep collecting data."