The crowd at TD Garden, Boston, knew they were in for something special, but what unfolded at the ISU Figure Skating Championships 2025 was beyond anyone’s expectations. Amid the roar of the home audience, a young American skater lit up the ice like never before. Six quadruple jumps and a backflip (yes, a backflip on ice!)—a feat no one had ever pulled off in competition. That skater? Ilia Malinin. And at just 20 years old, he didn’t just win hearts—he made history.

But behind that groundbreaking performance was a wave of emotion. While the arena roared in celebration, Malinin’s heart was somewhere else, grieving the loss of fellow skaters who tragically died in a recent plane crash. That pain? It fueled his fire. But has he truly come to terms with it? Or is he still skating through the shadows of loss? Ilia Malinin has shared that he wants to ensure he heads into the Olympics without an issue.

On Thursday, April 17, the American competitive figure skater continued his success by dominating the men’s short program at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo. While talking to Olympics.com, Malinin revealed his views. As the Olympic season looms closer, the pressure is mounting—but for two-time world champion Ilia Malinin, it’s all part of the plan.

In a candid moment during a recent conversation, Malinin opened up about what’s really on his mind as he prepares for the biggest stage in figure skating. When asked whether winning his second world title has shifted anything mentally for the upcoming season, Malinin didn’t hesitate. “It’s, I guess, another step for me,” he said, offering a thoughtful moment.

He continued with, “Now is the time to find a solid foundation and get, like, a base of what elements I want to do, what music, what costumes.” This isn’t just about nailing jumps or polishing technique—it’s about building the complete Olympic package. Malinin knows it’s not enough to be technically strong; presentation, style, and strategy all have to align.

And he’s using every bit of his offseason to figure that out. “Kind of find that whole, I guess, Olympic package and just, you know, work with it,” he added. “Try to figure out what I want to do, and then just, I guess, a few months before the Olympics, just take that time to just try to go 100% in all my practices.” His focus? Peak at the right time—mentally, physically, and artistically.

He concluded with, “Just make sure that I can get into the best form leading up to the Olympics.” It is pretty obvious just how strong the young champion’s resolve is. But again, with two back-to-back titles at his age, it is no wonder. But don’t think for a second that it is simply his resolve that’s carrying him. After all, those who have followed Ilia for some time now know just how hardworking the youngster is.

Ilia Malinin’s artistic evolution in figure skating

In Boston, the world just had to notice Ilia Malinin. But his performance made one thing clear. Ilia wanted to redefine the very fabric of figure skating. Now, you might wonder, how can he do that? Well, he’s already doing it. Just look at his four-and-a-half rotations in the air and just how effortlessly he pulled them off. But Ilia knew that as the champion, much more was expected from him. So he did just that.

At Boston this month, he became the first figure skater to pull off six Quad jumps. But while most of these moves might seem something magical and impossible, the reality is that this is nothing but hard work. But while Ilia has had eyes on him since he was but 17, something about him has changed in recent times. What’s so different, you ask? Well, the answer to that might be hidden in Cortina, Italy.

Yes, you guessed it right. The Winter Olympics are right around the corner. And Malinin’s focus is razor sharp. Now it’s no longer just about the highest scores or the flashiest moves, but moving forward with a dream. And Ilia knows that for the Olympics, he cannot just brute through the competitions. Why? Because being an Olympian demands being the perfect package.

From the right music and choreography to the right story to tell, Cortina will be about much more than just spins and jumps. But it seems he is already taking that into account. After all, his To Build a Home theme at the recent World Championships once again proved that the sport is as much about narratives as it is about the visual elements. And Ilia Malinin has already learned to tell a story with his skating. So now all that’s remaining is polishing those skills to the utmost. After that, it’s up to luck if he can make it to Italy. What do you think? Can he?