Prague, Czech Republic – Ilia Malinin delivered a stunning performance in the short program at the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague on Thursday, positioning himself as the clear frontrunner for his third consecutive world title. The 21-year-ancient American skater leads the field with a score of 111.29 points, a significant margin ahead of his competitors.
France’s Adam Siao Him Fa secured second place, ten points behind Malinin, while Estonia’s Aleksandr Selevko surprised many with a strong showing to claim the third spot.
Watch Ilia Malinin’s short program here:
With a seemingly effortless backflip, Malinin delivered a powerful short program.
This World Championships carries particular weight for Malinin, who described it as a “tournament of redemption” following a disappointing performance at the Winter Games in Milan. There, despite being the clear favorite, he faltered under pressure and finished eighth. The 21-year-old is a two-time world champion and a rising star in the United States, consistently pushing the boundaries of the sport.
The men’s short program consists of seven required elements, demanding precision and maximizing points. Malinin’s costume, a striking blend of Roman gladiator and elf aesthetics, added to the spectacle.
He opened with a quadruple flip, followed by a quadruple lutz and captivated the audience with his backflip. The resulting score set a new personal best for the skater.
Whether Malinin secures the gold medal ultimately hinges on his performance in the free skate, which will be combined with his short program score. The men’s free skate is scheduled for Saturday, March 28th, and will be broadcast live by NOS starting at 14:30 local time.
Malinin’s success at the World Championships would further cement his status as a dominant force in men’s figure skating. He is already a decorated athlete, having earned a team event gold medal at the 2026 Olympic Games, and is the only skater to have successfully landed a fully rotated quadruple Axel in international competition, a feat he first achieved in 2022.
The competition in Prague promises to be thrilling, with skaters vying for the coveted world title. Fans can follow the action live on NOS.nl and the NOS app, with the pairs free skate scheduled for tonight at 20:30 local time.
What happens next will determine if Malinin can continue his reign as world champion. The free skate promises to be a captivating display of athleticism and artistry.
