Key Takeaways:
- Ilia Malinin won his fourth consecutive U.S. figure skating championship, earning a score of 324.88 and securing his spot on the 2026 Olympic team.
- Madison Chock and Evan Bates won their seventh U.S. figure skating championship, breaking the record for most U.S. titles of all time.
- The 2026 U.S. Olympic figure skating team will be announced on Sunday, with three men and three women singles skaters, three ice dance teams, and two pairs teams to be selected.
- Ilia Malinin’s training regimen includes skating a full program at least once a day, with a focus on building stamina and muscle memory.
- The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from February 6 to February 22, with the figure skating events scheduled to begin on February 8.
Introduction to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships
The U.S. figure skating championships took place in St. Louis, with Ilia Malinin winning his fourth consecutive title. Malinin, known as the "Quad God," brought the crowd to its feet with his final competition before the 2026 Milano Cortina Games. He earned a score of 209.78 in the free skate, bringing his total score to 324.88, a whopping 57.26 points ahead of second-place Andrew Torgashev. Malinin’s victory was a testament to his hard work and dedication, and he is now a lock for the 2026 Olympic team.
Ilia Malinin’s Training Regimen
Ilia Malinin’s training regimen is a key factor in his success. He likes to skate a full program at least once a day, but doesn’t always attempt quad jumps. Instead, he focuses on building stamina and muscle memory, which allows him to perform complex jumps with ease. Malinin shared his approach to training on the Milan Magic podcast, stating that he likes to mix up his routine and only attempt quad jumps when he feels comfortable. This approach has clearly paid off, as Malinin has become one of the most dominant figure skaters in the world.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates’ Record-Breaking Win
Madison Chock and Evan Bates made history by winning their seventh U.S. figure skating championship, breaking the record for most U.S. titles of all time. The husband-and-wife duo have been on the podium at U.S. nationals every year since 2013 and have won five straight ice dance titles. Their free dance yielded a double-digit victory, with a program score of 137.17 and a total score of 228.87, 15.22 points ahead of the second-place team. Chock and Bates are now a lock for the 2026 Olympic team and will be looking to add an Olympic medal to their collection.
The Selection Process for the 2026 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team
The 2026 U.S. Olympic figure skating team will be announced on Sunday, with three men and three women singles skaters, three ice dance teams, and two pairs teams to be selected. The selection process takes into account past performances, focusing on the athlete’s body of work over the past two seasons. Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito are considered roster locks, as are Madison Chock and Evan Bates. The remaining spots will be filled based on the athletes’ performances at the U.S. championships and other international competitions.
Ilia Malinin’s Background and Inspiration
Ilia Malinin was born into a family of figure skaters. His mother, Tatiana Malinina, competed at 10 consecutive world figure skating championships for Uzbekistan, while his father, Roman Skorniakov, represented Uzbekistan at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics. Malinin’s parents are both skating coaches, and he began skating at a young age. He has said that his love of gymnastics and acrobatics has inspired his approach to figure skating, and he enjoys pushing the boundaries of what is possible on the ice.
The Difference Between Ice Dancing and Figure Skating
Ice dancing is a discipline that does not feature jumps or lifts, unlike figure skating pairs. Instead, ice dancing is made up of two segments, the rhythm dance and the free dance. Madison Chock and Evan Bates are a dominant force in ice dancing, and their record-breaking win at the U.S. championships is a testament to their skill and artistry. Ice dancing requires a different set of skills and techniques than figure skating, and Chock and Bates have mastered the discipline.
The 2026 Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from February 6 to February 22, with the figure skating events scheduled to begin on February 8. Ilia Malinin, Madison Chock, and Evan Bates are all expected to compete, and the Olympics will provide a platform for them to showcase their skills on the world stage. The Olympics will be a culmination of years of hard work and dedication for these athletes, and they will be looking to bring home medals for the United States.