Ilia Malinin showcased his exceptional dominance in figure skating, leaving his competitors far behind at the Winter Olympics. Despite his impressive performance, he believes there is still plenty of room for improvement.
The United States’ world champion secured a remarkable victory at the season’s first Grand Prix event in Angers, France, with an extraordinary 40-point lead. Known as the “Quad God,” Malinin executed five quadruple jumps during his free skate, with only a minor flaw in one rotation. Despite this, he remains eager to enhance his skills further.
Expressing his optimism, Malinin stated, “I anticipate significant improvements in my performance. This competition has been a valuable experience, and I am excited about the upcoming season.”
Malinin’s remarkable winning streak has now extended to nearly two years, with his latest triumph overshadowing the second-place finisher, Adam Siao Him Fa, by a significant margin. While Siao displayed resilience by climbing from fifth place after the short program, he could not surpass Malinin’s exceptional lead.
Nika Egadze of Georgia secured the third spot with a score of 259.41, followed by Lukas Britschgi of Switzerland in fourth place. However, Japan’s Kao Miura and Tatsuya Tsuboi faced setbacks, with Miura dropping to 10th place and Tsuboi to seventh after the free skate.
In the ice dance category, France’s Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry clinched their first Grand Prix victory as a pair, surpassing the overnight leaders, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Britain. The winning duo scored 211.02 points, securing a triumphant performance in front of their home crowd.
The Grand Prix de France serves as the initial event in the series of six regular season Grand Prix competitions leading up to the final in December. It acts as a pivotal platform for skaters aiming for success at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February. Live coverage of the Grand Prix season can be accessed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem, offering viewers a front-row seat to the captivating performances.