Vienna’s Ilia Malinin wins first world figure skating title

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — Ilia Malinin, 19, won his first world figure skating championship Saturday Night in Montreal, Canada.

“It doesn’t feel real at the moment. It feels like it’s a dream,” Malinin said over Zoom from his hotel room Sunday. “But I know that it’s not.”

Malinin, of Vienna, Va., found himself in third place following Thursday’s competition. However, he finished the competition with a world-record performance in the free program, which included six quad jumps, including Malinin’s patented quad axel.

“It feels like I’ve worked for this moment. My whole entire career,” Malinin said. “And now that I achieved it, one of the best goals that I have achieved in my life so far.”

Fairfax County figure skating star Ilia Malinin wins first world title

Malinin has been involved in figure skating for most of his life. He learned from his parents at Reston’s Skatequest. They first took to the ice in their native Uzbekistan.

“One of the things that I love about [skating] is how everyone is so unique,” said Malinin. “Everyone has their own style of skating and everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. And that’s what just makes figure skating really fun to watch.”

He now takes home a gold medal, after capturing bronze last year.

“This is still an incredible feeling that you know, I was able to go out there and accomplish this,” Malinin said. “And now that I’m world champion, it’s I feel amazing.”

Malinin begins defense of his title in the Fall after he comes home for a much-needed break. Malinin has not ruled out competing for a spot on Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

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