Malinin Leads Kagiyama at Figure Skating Worlds in Boston

Ilia Malinin, the reigning world champion in figure skating, leads the competition after delivering a season-best short program in Boston, scoring 110.41 points, just shy of Nathan Chen's world record. He outperformed Japan's Yuma Kagiyama, who scored 107.09 points, with Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan trailing significantly in third place. Malinin has not faced defeat since 2023 and is seen as the favorite to win again at the upcoming Milano-Cortina Olympics. The championships are also marked by a somber tribute to the victims of a tragic plane crash involving members of the skating community, which has deeply affected Malinin and others. As the competition progresses, national Olympic quotas are at stake, which adds further significance to the event. Malinin aims to make a powerful statement in memory of the victims while pursuing his goal of landing record-breaking jumps during the free skate.