Ready or not, Ilia Malinin is about to skate for redemption.
The 21-year-old figure skating phenom was one of the main characters of the Winter Olympic Games, and though it started out perfectly for him by winning a gold medal the first weekend, it ultimately ended in disaster.
Only needing a clean skate to win the men’s individual gold medal, Malinin stumbled, not only losing the crown but completely falling off the podium. It was the worst skate of his professional career, and he’s had to hear about it constantly for the past month since the Olympics ended.
But he will have a chance to show the world he’s still the best male figure skater on the planet at the World Championships in Prague, starting next week.
Although reigning Olympic individual gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov dropped out of the event due to the stress of the chaotic Olympic Games, Malinin was firm in his decision to get right back on the ice after his disappointing finish in Milan.
Malinin was undefeated for two years before the Olympics, having won back-to-back world titles. In Prague, though he will have to wait four more years for an individual gold at the Olympics, Malinin can secure a three-peat, a feat last accomplished by fellow American Nathan Chen.
So, when will the “Quad God” return to competitive ice for the first time since the Olympics?
There will be two days of practice on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week before the opening segment, the short program, on Thursday, beginning at 6:30 a.m. Eastern in the United States.
After a cooldown day with another practice session scheduled in the afternoon, the free skate portion of the event will commence at 7:30 a.m. Eastern on Saturday.
After the world champions from each discipline are decided, the most prominent performers from the tournament will be invited to skate at the Exhibition Gala on Sunday.
Source: newsweek.com
