Ilia Malinin showcased his dominance in figure skating ahead of the Winter Olympics, emphasizing that he still has substantial room for improvement. The United States’ world champion clinched a resounding victory at the inaugural Grand Prix of the season in Angers, France, boasting an unparalleled 40-point lead.
Known as the “Quad God,” Malinin executed five quadruple jumps flawlessly in his free skate, with a minor under-rotation being his only discernible imperfection. Despite his remarkable performance, he remains ambitious, stating, “I believe there is much more room for improvement. I can draw valuable lessons from this competition, and I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming season.”
Maintaining an undefeated streak for nearly two years, Malinin’s total score of 321 points on Sunday significantly surpassed Adam Siao Him Fa’s second-place score of 280.95. While Siao showed resilience by climbing from fifth place after the short program, securing a fourth consecutive victory at his home Grand Prix seemed unattainable.
In the men’s event, Nika Egadze of Georgia secured third place with 259.41 points, followed by Lukas Britschgi of Switzerland in fourth with a 10-point difference. Japan’s Kao Miura, initially in third position, plummeted to 10th after two falls, while Tatsuya Tsuboi of Japan dropped to seventh from fourth place.
Meanwhile, France’s Olympic ice dance champion Guillaume Cizeron, in partnership with Laurence Fournier Beaudry, clinched their first Grand Prix victory together after placing third following the rhythm dance on Saturday. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron outscored overnight leaders Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Britain, securing the top spot with 211.02 points. Lithuania’s Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius claimed third place with a total of 201.05 points.
The Grand Prix of France marks the commencement of the regular Grand Prix season, comprising six events leading up to the final in December. This competition serves as a pivotal test for skaters aspiring to medal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February. Live coverage of the Grand Prix season is available on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem, with a detailed streaming schedule provided for viewers.
