Milan, Feb 9, (V7N) – American star Ilia Malinin delivered a dazzling free skate to secure Olympic team gold for the United States on Sunday, edging out Japan in a nail-biting finish at the Milan Games.

The 21-year-old, competing in his first Olympics, scored 200.03 with five quadruple jumps to clinch victory, keeping the US atop the podium with 69 points. Japan finished close behind with 68, while host nation Italy celebrated an emotional bronze with 60 points—their first medal in the team event.

Malinin’s performance, watched by tennis legend Novak Djokovic, capped three days of intense competition. Japan had led in pairs and women’s events, with Kaori Sakamoto’s stunning free skate and Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara’s career-best routine putting heavy pressure on the Americans. US ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates helped balance the score, but Malinin’s decisive routine sealed the title.

Nicknamed the “Quad God,” Malinin admitted nerves but said the energy of his team carried him through. “I knew it was going to be a tie-breaker… and it went exactly the way I wanted,” he said.

The victory marks back-to-back Olympic team golds for the US, who were awarded the 2022 Beijing title after Russia’s Kamila Valieva was disqualified for doping.

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