U.S. figure skating sensation Ilia Malinin has stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, delivering a masterclass performance in the men's short program on Tuesday. Scoring a massive 108.16 points, the 21-year-old "Quad God" established a crucial five-point cushion over his fiercest rival, Japan's Yuma Kagiyama, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown in Friday's free skate.

Redemption on Olympic Ice: Malinin's Strategic Shift

Coming off a shaky short program in the Team Event just days earlier—where he finished behind Kagiyama—Malinin entered the individual competition with renewed focus and a adjusted strategy. The heavy favorite proved exactly why he is the reigning world champion, executing a technically flawless routine at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.

Malinin opened with a towering quadruple flip, landing with the cat-like grace that has become his signature. He followed up with a pristine triple axel before bringing the crowd to its feet with a massive quadruple lutz-triple toe loop combination. This element alone earned an eye-popping score, anchoring his technical superiority.

"I definitely took a different approach than in the team event," Malinin told reporters in the mixed zone. "It really just felt like there was so much pressure before... coming to this short program, I wanted to take this a little more slowly, a little more calm, and just push the autopilot button and see what happens."

The Rivals: Kagiyama Falters, Siao Him Fa Surges

While Malinin soared, his primary challenger faced a stumble. Yuma Kagiyama, the 2022 Olympic silver medalist who had bested Malinin in the team segment, posted a score of 103.07 to sit in second place. Kagiyama's program was largely brilliant, showcasing his renowned skating skills and edge work, but a costly step-out on his triple axel attempt left the door open for the American to seize control.

"I had too much force on the Axel which was a shame," Kagiyama admitted, acknowledging the fierce battle ahead. "I'm going to have to sweat blood to catch up."

Meanwhile, France's Adam Siao Him Fa inserted himself firmly into the medal conversation. Delivering a personal-best performance, the European champion scored 102.55, finishing less than a point behind Kagiyama. His virtually clean skate ensures that the race for the podium remains a tight three-way battle heading into the final segment.

Team USA Winter Olympics News: Depth on Display

It wasn't just the Malinin show for the United States. The depth of the American men's program was on full display in Milan. Andrew Torgashev skated the performance of his life, earning a personal best of 88.94 to finish in a respectable 8th place. Teammate Maxim Naumov also qualified for the free skate, finishing 14th.

This individual success adds to an already historic week for Team USA, following their gold medal victory in the Team Event earlier this week, where Malinin's free skate heroics helped clinch the top spot over Japan and Italy.

Looking Ahead: The Free Skate and the Quad Axel

With the short program concluded, all eyes now turn to Friday's free skate (February 13). The question on everyone's mind is whether Malinin will unleash his historic Quad Axel—the jump he famously pioneered and the only skater in history to land in competition.

Malinin notably opted not to attempt the risky four-and-a-half rotation jump in the short program, prioritizing a clean execution to build his lead. However, with Olympic gold on the line and Kagiyama within striking distance, the "Quad God" may need his divine weaponry to seal the deal. A victory would crown him as the first American man to win Olympic gold since Nathan Chen in 2022, cementing a dynasty of U.S. dominance in men's figure skating.

Current Medal Standings Recap (Top 3 Short Program):

  • 1. Ilia Malinin (USA) - 108.16
  • 2. Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) - 103.07
  • 3. Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) - 102.55