Ilia Malinin showcased his exceptional lead in figure skating well before the Winter Olympics, emphasizing that he still has considerable room for improvement. The U.S. world champion triumphed with an unprecedented 40-point advantage at the inaugural Grand Prix event in Angers, France.
Known as the “Quad God,” Malinin executed five quadruple jumps during his free skate, with only a minor under-rotation as a noticeable flaw. Despite this, he expressed confidence in his ability to enhance his performance further, stating, “I believe there is much more room for improvement. This competition was enjoyable, and I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming season.”
Maintaining an unbeaten streak for nearly two years, Malinin’s total score of 321 points on Sunday significantly surpassed Adam Siao Him Fa’s 280.95, securing him the second position. Although Siao demonstrated improvement by advancing from fifth place after the short program, his chances of securing a fourth consecutive win at his home Grand Prix seemed unlikely.
Nika Egadze from Georgia secured third place with a score of 259.41, while Lukas Britschgi, the European champion from Switzerland, followed in fourth place with a 10-point difference. On the other hand, Japan’s Kao Miura, initially in third place, dropped to tenth after two falls, and Tatsuya Tsuboi from Japan descended from fourth to seventh.
In a separate event, France’s Olympic ice dance champion Guillaume Cizeron and his new partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry clinched their first Grand Prix victory together after placing third in the rhythm dance the previous day. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron outperformed overnight leaders Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson from Britain, securing the top spot with a total score of 211.02.
The Grand Prix de France marks the commencement of the regular season Grand Prix circuit, consisting of six events leading up to the final in December. This series serves as a crucial evaluation for skaters aiming for success at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February. Live coverage of the Grand Prix season is accessible on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem, with a detailed streaming schedule available online.