Ilia Malinin, competing in his first Olympics, placed second in the team event’s short program with a score of 98.00, behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama. Known as the “Quad God,” Malinin’s performance included a notable backflip, which he hopes will attract new fans to figure skating. Despite the pressure of being a gold medal favorite, he remains focused on his upcoming performances. The U.S. leads the team event over Japan heading into the free dance.
