American figure skater Ilia Malinin won his third consecutive world championship this weekend in Prague, just six weeks after a disappointing eighth-place finish at the Winter Olympics. The 21-year-old, known for his high-risk, quad-heavy routines, delivered two clean programs to secure gold by 22.73 points, the largest margin in men's singles at worlds since 2017.
Malinin, who had been a heavy medal favorite in Milan, attributed his Olympic struggles to pressure and expectations. In Prague, he adopted a different mindset, focusing on enjoyment rather than perfection. 'All I wanted to do was skate for myself,' he told U.S. Figure Skating, calling the competition a 'change in mindset.'
The skater earned a personal best in the short program and held his lead with a dazzling free skate, landing five quadruple jumps—though he avoided his signature seven-quad routine from December. His performance included signature moves like the backflip and raspberry twist spin, which wowed the crowd.
At the exhibition gala, Malinin showcased his athleticism further, performing a backflip in jeans and executing his iconic quadruple axel effortlessly. He confirmed he would not retire, expressing excitement for the upcoming season.
Malinin is the first U.S. skater to three-peat at worlds since Nathan Chen in 2018. His victory caps a season of highs and lows, from Olympic disappointment to world championship redemption.