United States figure skater Ilia Malinin can burnish his credentials as the red-hot favourite for Olympic gold when he faces his rivals at the Grand Prix Final in Japan this week.
The 21-year-old, whose dazzling array of quadruple jumps has earned him the nickname “Quad God”, is a two-time world champion and front-runner to claim the title when he makes his Olympic debut in Milan-Cortina in February.
He will take his preparations to the next level this week against an elite field in Nagoya, with Japanese pair Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato and France’s Adam Siao Him Fa also looking to make a statement ahead of the Winter Games. Malinin, Grand Prix Final champion for the past two years, qualified with maximum points after winning at the Grand Prix de France and Skate Canada.