Two time World Champion Ilia Malinin enters the Olympic season focused on Milano Cortina 2026 while planning a long competitive future that extends beyond a single Games. The 21 year old figure skater confirmed ambitions to continue through multiple Olympic cycles, including French Alps 2030 and Utah 2034
Malinin spoke during a media call ahead of the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, scheduled from 4 to 11 January. The event offers a chance to secure a fourth consecutive national title.
After his recent exploits, Malinin is now one of the leading contenders for Olympic gold. Malinin did a milestone free skate with seven quadruple leaps at the ISU Grand Prix Final on December 7, 2025. The performance was a major step forward in the tournament and proved that the best technical talents are still the best at the senior level.
Malinin talked about the physical demands and set specific goals when asked about lifespan. The skater claimed that their goal was to be active for at least three Olympic cycles, based on how fit they were, how motivated they were, and how much they loved the sport.
Malinin pondered about how far he had come and said that the successful execution of the seven quad arrangement was a big achievement. The skater said they were thrilled to have done a program that they felt was too hard to do in a competition.
Malinin said that this season he has become more confident and observant on the ice. The competitive focus now goes beyond technical benchmarks to include obtaining peak performance across several years of development.
Plans for the future are still open-ended. Malinin stressed the need for continual assessments of physical preparation and motivation, as well as a willingness to competing for longer than three Olympic cycles.
The National Olympic Committee will still have to choose who can take part in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Summary
Ilia Malinin is ready for a possible Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026 after setting records, such a seven-quad free skate. Long-term intentions include continuing to compete through several Olympic cycles, with an emphasis on improving and maintaining performance.
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