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3mo ago

Ilia Malinin Wins Third Straight World Title With Composed Free Skate in Prague

The 21-year-old used a cleaner technical plan to steady his season after an Olympic collapse.

USA's Ilia Malinin celebrates with the US flag after winning the men's free skating program of the 2026 ISU Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic on March 28, 2026. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP via Getty Images)
Ilia Malinin of United States celebrates at the end of the Men's Free Skating during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at O2 Arena on March 28, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
USA's Ilia Malinin celebrates after performing during the men's free skating program of the 2026 ISU Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic on March 28, 2026. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Malinin, who led after a personal-best short program, sealed the title Saturday with 218.11 in the free skate for 329.40 overall.
  • He landed five quadruple jumps and replaced his usual quad Axel with a triple Axel to prioritize a clean skate.
  • Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama took silver with 306.67 and Shun Sato earned bronze with 288.54, while Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov skipped Worlds.
  • He said he will join the Stars on Ice tour next month and retire the free skate that weighed on him at the Olympics.
  • He criticized planned ISU rule changes that cut free-skate jumping passes from seven to six, arguing fewer chances could push skaters toward riskier attempts.