Sat Jan 25 20:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Malinin Dominates US Figure Skating Championships Short Program
**Wichita, KS** – Reigning world champion Ilia Malinin solidified his position as the frontrunner at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, establishing a record-breaking lead after a stunning short program performance. The 20-year-old, known as the “quad god” for his mastery of quadruple jumps, scored 114.08 points, a massive 19.14-point advantage over second-place Andrew Torgashev. This surpasses the previous record margin set by Malinin himself last year.
Malinin’s performance included flawlessly executed quad flip and quad Lutz jumps. He is on track for his third consecutive national title and is heavily favored to lead the three-man U.S. team at the World Championships in Boston in March. The team selection is largely determined by national championships results. Torgashev and third-place finisher Jimmy Ma are vying for the remaining spots on the world team. Notable absentee Jason Brown, a two-time Olympian and recent U.S. silver medalist, is not competing. His participation in the World Championships remains uncertain.
Malinin’s main international rivals include Olympic and world silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan. While Kagiyama bested Malinin in the free skate at the Grand Prix Final in December, Malinin’s substantial short program lead secured him the overall victory. The competition continues Sunday with the men’s free skate, where Malinin will attempt to maintain his commanding lead. The championships also feature ice dancing and pairs skating events.
First Piper 