Ilia Malinin signals World Championship intentions with Grand Prix gold
BySportsbeat
Published 09/12/2023 at 23:41 GMT
USA's Ilia Malinin won the Figure Skating Grand Prix Final to cement his status as favourite for the world title in March. The 19-year-old won gold with a combined score of 314.66 points, beating Japan's Shoma Uno by a margin of 17.32 in Beijing. Madison Chock and Evan Bates took gold in the ice dance to continue the American success while Japan's Kaori Sakamoto won the women's singles.
BEIJING, CHINA - DECEMBER 09: Ilia Malinin of the United States competes in the Men's Free Skating during day three of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final at National Indoor Stadium on December 09, 2023 in Beijing, China.
Image credit: Getty Images
USA's Ilia Malinin won the Grand Prix Final in Beijing to cement his status as favourite for the world title in March.
The 19-year-old scored a combined 314.66 points to scoop gold at the prestigious event, bringing together the top six in each discipline from the Grand Prix series.
Malinin's performance was enough to keep Japan's Shoma Uno in silver medal position by a margin of 17.32.
The teenager fell on a quad Axel but landed five quads in the free skate to follow in the footsteps of Nathan Chen, the last American man to win the Grand Prix singles title.
There was more American success in the ice dance with Madison Chock and Evan Bates taking gold.
The Grand Prix title was one of the few major titles to have eluded the pair, who prevailed with a world-leading total of 221.61 ahead of Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy.
It was their first victory at the Grand Prix final at the seventh attempt.
In the women's singles, Japan's double world champion Kaori Sakamoto won a maiden Grand Prix title by a convincing margin of 22.34.
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