Ilia Malinin Lands Historic Quadruple Axel to Win World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal

Ilia Malinin made figure skating history on Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal, becoming the first skater to successfully land a quadruple Axel in official competition while claiming his second consecutive World Figure Skating Championships title. The 20-year-old American was flawless throughout his free skate program, earning a world record score of 227.79 points that left the capacity crowd of 21,105 in stunned silence before erupting in a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.

The historic moment came midway through Malinin free skate when he attempted the quadruple Axel that has been the holy grail of mens figure skating for decades. The jump requires four and a half rotations in the air, making it the most technically difficult element in the sport, and previous attempts by elite skaters had resulted in under-rotation or falls. Malinins execution was perfect, with textbook takeoff and landing that demonstrated years of dedicated training while showcasing the kind of athletic ability that separates champions from competitors.

The American entered the free skate trailing Japanese skater Yuma Kagiyama by just 2.31 points, setting up what many expected to be a closely contested battle for the world title. However, Malinin elevated his performance to another level entirely, landing eight clean jumps including his historic quadruple Axel while demonstrating improved artistry and presentation skills that have developed significantly over the past two seasons. His program to Rachmaninoffs Piano Concerto No. 2 was both technically brilliant and emotionally compelling.

Kagiyama skated beautifully but could not match Malinins technical content, finishing with a free skate score of 201.43 points for a total of 310.05 points to claim the silver medal. The Japanese skater was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that he had witnessed something special while expressing determination to continue pushing the technical boundaries of the sport himself. Frances Kevin Aymoz rounded out the podium with a bronze medal performance that showcased his improved consistency throughout the season.

The quadruple Axel achievement represents more than just a technical milestone; it demonstrates the continued evolution of mens figure skating toward increasingly athletic and demanding programs. Malinin coach Rafael Arutyunyan was emotional following the performance, noting that this moment had been years in the making and required countless hours of training while managing the physical and mental demands of attempting such a dangerous element. The successful completion opens new possibilities for future technical development in the sport.

International Skating Union officials confirmed that Malinins quadruple Axel will be officially recognized in the record books, making him just the second American man to win consecutive world titles since Scott Hamilton in the 1980s. The achievement also positions him as the overwhelming favorite heading into the upcoming Winter Olympics, where he will have the opportunity to become the first American man to win Olympic gold since Evan Lysacek in 2010. As Malinin stood atop the podium holding his second consecutive world championship medal, the figure skating community was reminded that they had witnessed one of the most significant moments in the sports history, with the successful quadruple Axel likely inspiring a new generation of skaters to push the boundaries of what was previously thought impossible.