> At a Glance
> – Ilia Malinin captured his fourth consecutive U.S. Figure Skating title with 324.88 points
> – Madison Chock and Evan Bates won a record seventh U.S. ice dance title with 228.87 points
> – U.S. Figure Skating will announce the Olympic team Sunday
> – Why it matters: These championships determine who represents America at the Milan Cortina Olympics
Ilia Malinin dominated the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, extending his unbeaten streak beyond two years with a scaled-back yet still unmatched performance.
Malinin’s Masterclass
The 21-year-old world champion landed three quadruple jumps-more than any competitor-while scoring 324.88 points. His free skate featured a quad flip, triple axel, and quad salchow-triple axel combination.
Malinin explained his conservative approach:
> “I decided not to go for any risks. I wanted to play it safe, because hopefully in a few weeks I have to go again.”
Ice Dance History
Madison Chock and Evan Bates secured their record seventh U.S. title with 228.87 points. Their flamenco-style free dance to “Paint It Black” earned unprecedented audience response.
Chock reflected:
> “The feeling that we got from the audience today was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.”
Olympic Spots
The U.S. qualified maximum three men’s spots for Milan Cortina. Torgashev finished second with 267.62 points, while Naumov earned bronze with 249.16 points.
Naumov emotionally shared:
> “I gritted my teeth on everything. I fought on everything. If I had to crawl, I would crawl to the end, but I made it.”
Key Takeaways
- Malinin’s victory extends his unbeaten streak beyond two years
- Chock and Bates set U.S. ice dance record with seventh title
- Olympic team announcement Sunday will determine American representatives
- Both competitions showcased emotional victories and technical excellence
