Ilia Malinin overcomes boot problems for repeat U.S. title

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Temporarily set aside the elevation of Ilia Malinin.

For the second consecutive year, the skater fell considerably short of perfection in the free skate at the Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

While Malinin successfully executed a stunning quadruple Axel – a jump unmatched by anyone else – for the first time at nationals and claimed victory in the free skate, surpassing his second-place finish in the same phase last season, the sense of unfulfillment lingered. Despite tripling his winning margin from the previous year, securing a nearly 30-point lead over the quad-less Jason Brown, there was a palpable letdown at the conclusion of Malinin’s performance. This sentiment prevailed throughout an event where the winners in each of the four disciplines displayed notably flawed free skates, leaving the sizable and enthusiastic crowds at Nationwide Arena wanting more.

The top three men — Malinin, Brown, and Pulkinen — each committed two or more errors in their performances, with Pulkinen’s mistakes being the least costly. Pulkinen achieved his first podium finish at nationals, while it marked the eighth podium finish for Brown, the 2015 champion.

Maintaining his usual high standards, Malinin had planned six quadruple jumps but only successfully landed three. One of them, a Lutz, resulted in a fall, while he popped two others (a loop and a toe loop), transforming them into doubles. His expression was a mix of wistfulness, with a half-smile and half-perplexed look.

This situation closely mirrored the previous year when he fell on the quad Axel and experienced similar issues with two other quads during the free skate. This time, he attributed his performance shortcomings to a common problem for skaters – trouble with skate boots that arose a couple of weeks before nationals. The new boots he attempted to break in proved uncomfortable, leading him to revert to an old pair that had surpassed its recommended usage period.

The boot issue deeply affected 19-year-old Malinin to the extent that he contemplated withdrawing from the competition.

“Dealing with this problem made it mentally challenging to come here and deliver my best, but I recognized that regardless, I still had to present something and give my best effort out there,” he expressed.

Despite the challenges, Malinin stated, “I’m not particularly disappointed with my performance because, even with the issues I faced, I’m still pleased with other aspects, such as my components (artistic scores). I’ve seen significant improvement in the cleanliness of my programs, connecting with the audience, and engaging with the judges.”

The judges, displaying generosity, awarded him a component score of 91.68, which was seven points higher than the previous year at nationals. This marked the first time he surpassed the 90-point threshold.

Malinin arrived in Columbus after an impressive victory at December’s Grand Prix Final, where he competed against a six-man field that included the two-time reigning world champion, Shoma Uno of Japan.

Looking ahead, Malinin expressed his hope that his performance at nationals would serve as a foundation for his aspirations at the March World Championships in Montreal, where he is anticipated to be a strong contender for the title.

Now, the foundation of Ilia Malinin’s performances – his boots – requires adjustments.

Malinin acknowledges the expectations for him to showcase impressive jumps, particularly the quad Axel. However, he emphasizes the importance of prioritizing his health over meeting those expectations: “If I can’t deliver the jump pyrotechnics for them, I understand they might be disappointed, but my health always comes first. Taking unnecessary risks may result in setbacks that prevent me from showcasing those skills for a few years.”

Two-time Olympian Jason Brown, aged 29, recognized the need to prioritize both his mental and physical well-being to sustain his competitiveness. This realization led him to adopt a “less-as-more” approach before the previous season, involving reductions in both training intensity and competition commitments. The outcome has been back-to-back U.S. silver medals.

The question remains whether Brown will return for the 2025 season.

“If you were to inquire today, my response is affirmative,” Brown affirmed. “The journey to nationals last year differed from this year’s, and I anticipate that next year’s path will also be distinct. I’m continuously learning and navigating through my experiences. It’s been a rewarding experience to forge my own path and establish an alternative approach to competition.”