The starting weekend is the American one by Ilia Malinin the last as a minor. The youngster from the state of Virginia is spending it far from his home in Espoo, where the competition of the hard-level GP series of figure skating is being contested. Malinin is one of the most interesting international stars of the event.
The junior world champion turns 18 on December 2. Despite his young age, Malinin has already made history in his sport. Many have tried the quadruple axis, but failed. In September, Malinin became the first skater in history to jump in a pure quadruple axel competition.
– It started as a joke when I said that I can do it. Then I saw how many skaters tried it. I thought that my triple axel was already really good, so if I put a lot of time and energy into training, I could succeed in the quadruple axel. I trained hard and succeeded in jumping, Malinin tells Urheilu.
The number of plays has been so wild that even Malininka has not kept up with the bills. Now it seems that the teenage star is able to make a jump that was previously considered impossible with seemingly no effort in one race after another.
According to Malinin, a successful jump requires much more than speed, effort and fast rotation.
– It seems that it goes easily for me, but the quadruple axle is really difficult, especially mentally. You have to be very confident, brave and believe in your own technique, says Malinin.
The quadruple axel is considered the most difficult jump in figure skating because the effort is made from the slide forward and four and a half turns are made in the air. Other jumps are attempted by sliding backwards and half turns are not needed.
It goes without saying that Malin also dominates other quadruple jumps as well as difficult combinations. Jumping skills are hard currency in today’s figure skating.
– Jumps are my greatest strength. They have come quite naturally to me since I was a little boy, but hard work has also borne fruit. I think I have perfected my technique, which is why my jumps look so easy on the outside.
Watch Malinin’s historic jump in the video of the tweet above.
Malinin’s both parents, mother Tatjana Malinina and father Roman Skorniakovare former top skaters.
Malinin’s Russian-born parents represented Uzbekistan in their careers, among other things, at the Olympics and several World Cup competitions. Tatjana Malinina finished fourth in the World Championships in 1999 and also won the GP final in the same year.
For Malinin, who started figure skating at the age of six, the choice of sport was self-evident. The parents, who moved to the United States twenty years ago, have been responsible for their son’s coaching throughout his career.
– The only option was figure skating, because my parents were always at the hall, and wouldn’t have had time to push me to other hobbies. It was easy to let me try figure skating. I fell in love with the sport and have loved it ever since, says Malinin, who enjoys performing.
Last season, Malini competed in the US Championships for the first time in the adult division and finished second. However, it was not enough for an Olympic place, but the USA champion went to Beijing Nathan Chen and placed fourth Jason Brown.
The choice caused heated debate in American figure skating circles, but it died down when the experienced Brown, 27, took the Olympic ice to the best points of his career and finished sixth. Chen, the sport’s brightest star, won the Olympic gold in overwhelming style.
Malininka wasn’t left completely empty-handed either, but got to feel the atmosphere of an adult competition at the spring World Championships, where she finished ninth.
The next opportunity to make the Olympic dream come true will be a little over three years from now at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan.
– Getting to the Olympics is my main goal. My parents raced there and I think I would enjoy it a lot. I hope to make it to Milan 2026 because Italy is a fun place. I just want to develop steadily from season to season and I hope that everything goes well, says Malinin.
On the women’s side, there have been many really young teenage stars, including the Russian stars of recent years Alina Zagitova, Anna Shtsherbakova and Kamila Valieva. Men have typically risen to the top at a slightly older age and have been successful while still in their 25s and 30s.
Malinin believes that his best years are still far ahead. In jumps, Malin is the best in the world, but in basic skating skills, he pales in comparison to, for example, his compatriot Nathan Chen.
No one has come close to Chen’s world-record score of 335.30, even though the superstar has never attempted a quad axel in competition. Malinin skated his record score of 280.37 in October – in a competition where he succeeded in the quadruple axel already for the second time.
– We work hard to improve my choreography, pirouettes and performances. I hope that in the future I would be as good in other areas as I am as a jumper, says Malinin.
The Figure Skating Grand Prix will take place on Friday and Saturday in Espoo. The men’s competition starts on Friday evening with a short program.