Malinin Shines at Winter Olympics Amid Emotional Moments

Thu Feb 12 2026 01:06:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ilia Malinin tops the leaderboard in the men's short program while Maxim Naumov pays tribute to his late parents. The Olympics also feature the whimsical performance of Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate as the Minion.

In an emotional evening at the Winter Olympics, Ilia Malinin dazzled with a commanding performance, securing the top spot with a score of 108.16. Maxim Naumov, who recently lost his parents in a tragic incident, delivered a heartfelt routine that earned him a place in the next round, while Spanish skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate showcased his unique Minion-themed routine despite not qualifying.

From the astonishing to the emotional to the downright bizarre, the Olympic figure skating men's short program on Tuesday night had it all.

But the star once again was the USA's Ilia Malinin, who stormed to the top of the leaderboard with a stunning routine featuring a quad flip and quad lutz - two of the hardest techniques in the sport.

Although he did not quite land the quad axel which has earned him the nickname 'Quad God', it put him top of the short program with a score of 108.16.

Unlike in the team event, where he made errors, this was an ominously clean routine from the 21-year-old – and he even threw in a backflip for good measure. Japan's Yuma Kagiyama is more than five points behind after slipping on his triple axel.

Kagiyama is second on 103.07, while France's Adam Siao Him Fa impressed with a score of 102.55. Daniel Grassl, the best hope for hosts Italy of another medal on the ice, sits fourth with 93.46.

But all eyes are on Malinin as he strives for individual Winter Olympic gold. He has not been beaten in competition for almost two and a half years! After recording more than 200 points in the team event free skate, few would bet against him here.

The battle will be concluded on Friday evening in the free skate, where Malinin will be the 24th and last man to compete.

Meanwhile, Maxim Naumov skated in memory of his parents, who tragically passed away just over a year ago. His routine garnered a season best of 85.65 points, ensuring his progression to the free skate. His emotional tribute to his parents was poignant as he expressed his desire to make them proud.

In a lighter moment, Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate performed to Minion music. Despite a tripping incident early in his performance affected his routine, and ultimately he placed 25th with a score of 69.80. His vibrant personality shone through as he acknowledged the audience after his exit.