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Ilia Malinin fought through visible exhaustion to secure first place in the men’s free skate at the 2025 ISU World Team Trophy on Friday (18 April) in Tokyo, capping off an intense 2024–25 Winter Olympic figure skating season with a gutsy performance. Despite a noticeable drop in execution and a rare fall on his final spin, Malinin’s high base value carried him to the top of the 12-man field with a score of 183.88.

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The two-time world champion’s performance came just three weeks after he competed at the World Winter Olympic Figure Skating Championships in Boston—an event that likely contributed to the fatigue he showed on the ice.

A Shaky but Strategic Skate

Although the free skate wasn’t his cleanest of the season, Malinin’s technical content was still unmatched. His program featured multiple quads, intricate step sequences, and high-risk transitions that pushed his base score well above the rest of the field. While errors chipped away at his total, he still finished four points ahead of teammate Jason Brown and 11 ahead of Italy’s Daniel Grassl.

I think this is the first time I felt this way, said Malinin. But overall, I was just lucky to be at this event and have this atmosphere with all my teammates, all my friends cheering me. It’s still very fun even though it was a bit tricky to get through the whole program. You Can Read Winter Olympic 2026: Alysa Liu holds edge over Sakamoto Kaori in Olympic figure skating at 2025 World Team Trophy

Team USA Sets the Pace Ahead of Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026

Malinin’s win helped propel Team USA to the top of the leaderboard with 95 points heading into the final day of the competition. The defending champions now hold a commanding 15-point lead over host nation Japan. Italy sits in third place with 66 points.

With performances like this from Malinin and Brown, Team USA continues to look like a strong favorite heading into the Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026 Games. The team event, added to the Olympics in 2014, has become one of the most thrilling showcases of depth in the sport. The Americans have consistently performed well, earning silver in 2014, bronze in 2018, and gold in 2022 (pending results of ongoing appeals regarding the ROC).

Jason Brown: The Reliable Veteran

Jason Brown, who finished second in the free skate with a score of 179.88, once again proved that precision, performance, and consistency can compete with the big jumpers. His clean skate, full of expressive choreography and seamless transitions, contrasted Malinin’s more technically ambitious routine but was met with rapturous applause.

As one of the sport’s most beloved veterans, Brown’s experience and reliability make him an ideal team event competitor. His role could be pivotal in Milan-Cortina, especially if the U.S. fields a multi-day lineup with different athletes skating in short and long programs.

Grassl Gains Ground as Italy Builds Toward Home Olympic

Daniel Grassl delivered a strong skate to place third with 172.72, showing signs that he is regaining consistency after a rocky couple of seasons. With Italy preparing to host the Winter Olympic 2026, every competition is a stepping stone toward peak performance on home soil. Grassl’s placement here is not only a personal success but also a sign that Italy’s men’s skating program is building valuable momentum.

Grassl, known for his ability to land challenging jumps like the quad Lutz, has had a rollercoaster few years—switching coaches, training environments, and occasionally struggling with consistency. His performance in Tokyo is a hopeful sign for Italian fans who will be looking to their athletes for strong Olympic showings in front of a home crowd.

Japan’s Kagiyama Falters in Rare Misstep

Team Japan suffered a surprise when Yuma Kagiyama, their top male skater and 2022 Winter Olympic silver medalist, faltered in his routine. Two early falls on the quad flip and quad Salchow severely impacted his momentum, and he ultimately placed fifth with 168.93 points—just behind compatriot Sato Shun, who skated a cleaner, though less technically difficult, program.

Kagiyama’s performance is a reminder of the sport’s fine margins. A single missed element can shift the tone of an entire skate. Yet with his elite pedigree, few doubt Kagiyama’s ability to bounce back in time for Olympic preparations. He remains a key piece of Japan’s gold-medal hopes in Milan-Cortina, both in the team and individual events.

Olympic Team Strategy: Who’s in the Running?

With the Winter Olympic 2026 now less than a year away, countries are beginning to sharpen their strategies for the team event. The challenge lies in selecting a balanced team that maximizes points across all disciplines: men’s, women’s, pairs, and ice dance.

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For the U.S., Malinin is the clear frontrunner for the men’s event. Brown remains a viable short program candidate, particularly in the team event, where clean execution and high program component scores are key. On the women’s side, the U.S. boasts a deep pool of talent, including world medalists Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn. In ice dance, Madison Chock and Evan Bates continue to lead the charge, while Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier (if they continue through 2026) remain top contenders in pairs.

Winter Olympic 2026: Why the World Team Trophy Matters

Though not part of the Olympic schedule, the World Team Trophy has grown in importance as a testing ground for Olympic hopefuls. It provides an environment similar to that of the Olympic team event: short turnarounds, shared national pressure, and performances spread over several days.

It also highlights how well athletes perform when representing their countries directly—an experience that adds an emotional and psychological layer often missing from individual competitions. Team camaraderie, travel stress, and support systems all play into results, giving federations valuable insight ahead of Olympic selection.

Countdown to Winter Olympic 2026: Final Preparations Begin

With one season left before the Winter Olympic Games, skaters and coaches will now enter a phase of refinement and strategic planning. Programs may be revamped, jump layouts adjusted, and music changed as athletes seek the right combination to maximize both technical points and emotional resonance with judges and audiences.

Ilia Malinin will likely spend the offseason working on stamina and presentation—two areas that, when polished, could make him nearly unbeatable. Jason Brown may look to further increase the difficulty of his programs if he decides to extend his career through Milan. Meanwhile, Kagiyama and Grassl will need to fine-tune their mental preparation and consistency as they aim to peak at the right moment.

Winter Olympic Focus: Eyes on Milano Cortina 2026

As the dust settles in Tokyo, the implications are clear: Ilia Malinin remains a dominant force in men’s Winter Olympic figure skating, and Team USA is in strong position to defend its Olympic team event title. While fatigue played a role in several skaters’ performances, it also gave a glimpse into who can persevere under pressure.

The road to Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026 will be paved with more international competitions, Grand Prix events, and national championships, but the foundations are being laid now. Every skate counts—and every point, every fall, and every cheer echoes forward into Olympic year.

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