Ilia Malinin (USA) celebrates his record-setting Free Skating and first World title at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal on Saturday © ISU
Ilia Malinin (USA) skated to his first World title as competition at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal (CAN) wrapped up Saturday with the Men’s Free Skating.
'Quad God' Ilia Malinin (USA) rules in Montreal
"Quad God" Ilia Malinin (USA) did his nickname justice on Saturday, skating lights out to take his first World title with 24 points to spare.
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama claimed his third silver medal at the ISU World Championships. France’s Adam Siao Him Fa celebrated a spectacular comeback, vaulting from 19th place to the podium to take bronze.
Malinin had drawn to skate last out of the 24 men in the Final and he closed out the World Championships with a bang. The ISU Grand Prix Final Champion opened his program to “Succession” with his trademark quadruple Axel and followed up with five more quads – Lutz, loop, Salchow, another Lutz and a toe – as well as a triple Lutz-triple Axel sequence and two level-four spins and level-four steps. The crowd went wild when he went all out in his choreo sequence, rising to their feet. Malinin collapsed in happiness on the ice, in disbelief about what he had just done.
The U.S. Champion set a record score in the Free Skating with 227.79 points. With a total of 333.76 points, he moved up to first from third.
“It means so much to me,” Malinin said. “The last few weeks were such a mental and physical challenge to go through. I was even debating whether I should come here or not. It was the last minute, but I wanted to come here to see what I can put out on the ice. I am so glad to be here on top right now.”
Malinin said he had no idea what would happen when he took the ice.
“It could be the best skate of my life or go terribly wrong."
Skating to “Rain, In Your Black Eyes”, Kagiyama delivered another powerful performance. He nailed a quad Salchow, quad flip and quad toe-Euler-triple Salchow as well as four triple jumps. The only error came when he missed his second triple Axel.
Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) claimed a third silver medal on Saturday at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal © ISU
The Four Continents Champion achieved a season’s best 203.30 points and netted 309.65 points overall.
“So all I can say, really, is World Championships, both Short Program and Free Skate, I did it. I put it all out there. I did as much as I could,” he said. “As far as the score is concerned, I think I was satisfied. As for the results, I was satisfied but there was a lot of disappointment as well. What I realized was, try as I might, I probably wouldn't have been able to win this Championship. And so this really brings me to think about planning very thoroughly for next season and all the way to the Olympics so that I can better myself.”
Ranked 19th following an error-ridden Short Program, Siao Him Fa did not think he was going to win a medal in Montreal.
“It was tough after the Short Program. I was mad at myself for not attacking the jumps,” he said.
Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) climbed onto the podium Saturday at the SU World Figure Skating Championships after finishing 19th in the Short Program © ISU
It was a different story in his expressive Free Skating routine set to music by Max Richter. The two-time European Champion pulled off four quads and four triples to score 206.90 points for the Free Skating. He accumulated 284.39 points to earn his first World medal.
“This competition was a lot of ups and downs. I went through a lot of emotions,” Siao Him Fa said. “I didn’t expect to win a medal after the Short Program. I just thought about skating a clean Free Skating and show what I’m capable of. It went pretty well and I’m glad about it. It gives me motivation for the future.”
Two-time World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) fell on a quad loop and stumbled on a quad flip to drop to fourth from first with 280.85 points. Jason Brown (USA) impressed with his performance to finish fifth on 274.33 points. Lukas Britschgi (SUI) was sixth with a personal best performance (274.09 points).
Two-time defending World Champion Shoma Uno settled for fourth on Saturday at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal © ISU
Schedule of the event
The schedule of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships is as follows:
Wednesday, March 20: Pairs & Women's Short Programs
Thursday, March 21: Men's Short Program, Pairs Free Skating
Friday, March 22: Rhythm Dance & Women's Free Skating
Saturday, March 23: Free Dance & Men's Free Skating
Sunday, March 24: Exhibition Gala
For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page and the official website. Follow the discussion on social media using #WorldFigure and #FigureSkating.
Where to watch the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2024:
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships will be live streamed on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. Geo-restrictions will apply in markets where TV rights are in place. You will find the full list in the Where to Watch news here.
Subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive alerts when the live streams start and when new videos are posted.
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