Evgeni Plushenko: “If Malinin is mentally prepared and lands the quadruple axel, no one will beat him. But now, there’s no longer 100% certainty. Especially since the two Japanese skaters – Kagiyama and Sato – are very strong.”
Evgeni Plushenko named the main contenders for medals in the figure skating competitions at the 2026 Olympics in Italy.
original source: Sport Express dd. 10th January
Two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko named Ilia Malinin, Yuma Kagiyama, and Shun Sato as the main contenders for figure skating medals at the 2026 Olympics, noting the rising competition and unpredictability in the men’s event. Here’s a translation of his comment.
“A couple of weeks ago, it seemed that Malinin was headed for a calm and predictable triumph in Milan. He’s an amazing skater, capable of anything on the ice, and has long been known for consistently landing unique jumps.
But in the team event, Ilia wasn’t at his highest level. Honestly, I didn’t expect such mistakes from him. Plus, I was surprised by the absence of the four-and-a-half rotation jump. I’m not talking about the short program, where that was expected, but about the free skate. Why didn’t he attempt it? And why the triple loop? That’s another question.
Most importantly, Malinin’s performances lacked his trademark flair, which we’ve gotten used to. Many considered him a skater without nerves. But at the Olympics, nerves get to everyone. Some manage to handle it, others don’t.
Of course, I admire Ilia and his talent, and I really want him to realize his potential in Milan. If he’s mentally prepared and lands the quadruple axel, no one will beat him. But now, there’s no longer 100% certainty. Especially since the two Japanese skaters – Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato – are very strong. Light, airy, with difficult quads -the flip and the lutz. When you watch them, it seems like they could skate five free programs in a row! They never seem to get tired! I don’t think they’ll falter. So the intrigue in the men’s event is at its peak.
In my opinion, these three are the main contenders for the medals,” Plushenko told SE.
Related topics: Evgeni Plushenko, Ilia Malinin, Olympic Games, Shun Sato, Yuma Kagiyama
In the team event it was strategically the right decisiob to do not the quad axel. Why should he? To fall? It was a situation for Malinin to do his best without falls. Especially when he was feeling at his time a little unsure of himself. In the short we saw this. Arutunian was at stage , his coach (not only his father)- an extraordinairy coach and stratege. So Malinin was the winner – with the fall not. Now he is 5 points bevor Kajama. Perhaps he will do the qzadaxel, perhaos not. Important is the winning not the show. Ih he feels today bevore the free scate a littel unsure, he shouldn’t do this unique jump. Gold is first.