Malinin eyes 3 Games to become 'fullest skater'

Ilia Malinin says he hopes to compete at three Winter Olympic Games, starting in Italy in February, as the three-time US men's figure skating champion continues the rapid rise that has made him the favourite for the gold medal at the upcoming Milano-Cortina Games in 2026.

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Asked how long he plans to stay in the sport, the 21-year-old said his goal is to skate through the 2026, 2030 and 2034 Olympic cycles, while acknowledging the physical demands of the difficult jumps that have helped define his career.

"There are three Olympic cycles that I still want to skate," he told reporters ahead of the US Figure Skating Championships, which kick off on Jan 4 in St Louis.

"Hopefully in those years I'll become the fullest skater I can be."

Earlier in December, Malinin won his third consecutive Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in record-setting fashion in Japan, becoming the first skater to land seven quad jumps in one programme.