Ilia Malinin wins third-straight Skate America title
Frenchman Kevin Aymoz takes silver in epic comeback.
Figure Skating
2024 world figure skating world champion Ilia Malinin kept up his winning ways Sunday (20 October), taking his third straight Skate America title inside the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas.
“I’m very proud of my skate today,” the American said. “I’m very happy that I was able to push through this program with some of the mistakes that I made. I always remind myself that stuff like this happens and you just have to move on, take it, and try to use it to progress and improve.”
Malinin finished with a 290.12 total score despite doubling a quadruple loop attempt and putting his hand down on a triple Lutz. In the end, the 19-year-old still executed four quadruple jumps.
France’s Kevin Aymoz was the silver medallist at 282.88, a complete turnaround after the 27-year-old ended his 2023-24 season early, having missed the free skate at the European Championships.
“My only goal was to come back from my last international performance,” Aymoz said. “I was popping doubles, falling on singles. Today, I am super proud because I did work throughout these last six months [to achieve this].”
Japan’s Miura Kao rounded out the podium, winning bronze with a 278.67 score.
“Today’s men’s event was very wonderful,” said Miura. “Wow. I am very happy that I was able to do the best that I could, but… I think today’s MVP was Kevin.”
Georgia’s Nika Egadze (261.71) and Latvia’s Deniss Vasiljevs (251.47) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Leader of the pack
With Nathan Chen and Hanyu Yuzuru not currently active on the international circuit, in addition to the recent retirement of Uno Shoma, Malinin finds himself – for the first time in his career – the clear leader in men’s figure skating.
That’s not lost on him, he admits.
“I think that might have played a part in going through this competition, overall. I felt a little more pressure on myself, and I think that’s kind of normal for coming into this competition being the current world champion; it puts a lot of pressure on me,” said Malinin. “I think over this season, I will just have to learn how to manage that.”
He’s already having to learn to manage others’ expectations on what his next technical innovation will be.
The first skater to successfully perform a quad Axel in competition, Malinin is already eyeing a quintuple jump in the near future.
But he sees the calls among fans online for more – including quad-quad combinations.
“I always try to take in people’s thoughts and what they think about adding quad-quad or quint in competition,” he admits. “But I always try to see what’s realistic for me.
“I always compare what I’m capable of doing under pressure and what people might want,” he continued. “If, for example, they want me to do a quad-quad combo, I think in a few years that might be a lot more realistic. So, then, I’ll be trying to incorporate them in my programs, but it really depends on how I feel and what’s realistic to me.”
Stunned Aymoz completes return after 2023-24 season despair
Jump by jump, moment by moment, Aymoz captured the audience on hand in Allen.
Many were perhaps acutely aware of his recent struggles. Just 10 months ago, Aymoz wasn’t sure he would continue in the sport after a devastating short program left him in second to last at the European Championships.
“I didn’t know [if I would compete] until yesterday morning,” he told reporters afterward. “I woke up and I was like, ‘Oof! A competition.’ When I finished the short, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s why I’m here, for this feeling.’”
Since the Europeans, he’s done mental work, including twice-weekly sessions. Aymoz’s training, he says, is totally different today.
“I do less practice on the ice. Before, I was doing 3 hours per day; now I’m doing like two sessions of 40 minutes,” Aymoz explained. “But I work just as much off ice, an hour and a half.”
It paid off on Sunday, and his emotions couldn’t be contained as the tears flowed.
“I’m proud. I don’t know how I did it today,” said Aymoz. “I know I worked hard, I worked so hard. You can’t imagine how much I kicked my [butt] on my own. I’m just happy.”
Fear and Gibson defeat two-time world champs Chock and Bates
Competition at Skate America wrapped up Sunday afternoon with the free dance.
Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson were the surprise winners, besting Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who couldn’t overcome the nearly six-point deficit they entered the free dance with after suffering a fall in the rhythm dance.
Fear and Gibson tallied 206.38, with Chock and Bates, the 2023 and 2024 world champs, finishing at 205.63.
"We were so proud to be up there on the podium, it was definitely a very heart-warming moment," said Fear. "Especially to be surrounded by our amazing teammates. It was a joy to compete alongside them this week, and to train toward this together and it makes it even more meaningful that we're all up there together."
Spain’s Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck (189.44) took bronze.