Ilia Malinin Wins Third World Title, Shares Farewell Message Before Japan Tour

United States figure skater Ilia Malinin is still reeling from his incredible run at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czech Republic.

The “Quad God” entered the Worlds with redemption in mind. This is after Malinin infamously faltered in the free skate of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this month.

After winning gold with Team USA in the team competition, Malinin failed to reach the podium in the individual event. He fell twice during his free skate routine, resulting in a shocking eighth-place finish.

Malinin embraced the heartbreak of the Olympics, and he made sure to make amends at the Worlds.

Ilia Malinin of the United States of America competes in the men’s singles free program during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.© Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Malinin was back to his dominant self in Prague. He finished first after the short program. He maintained his lead with another strong performance in the free skate, resulting in some major career news for the Fairfax, Virginia native.

Malinin entered this year’s competition as the two-time defending champion. He leaves the Czech Republic as a three-time title-winner after a hat trick of consecutive championships.

The United States ice skating superstar left Prague on Monday. He took to social media to post a photo from the airport, along with a farewell message.

“goodbye prague 🇨🇿 next stop Osaka 🇯🇵” he wrote.

Malinin won’t have much time to celebrate his latest career milestone. He is now headed to Japan for the Stars on Ice tour. The first stop is in Osaka, with shows scheduled on April 3 through 5. The tour will then shift to Tokyo for shows on April 10 to 12.

Malinin will join a host of figure skating stars in the highly anticipated tour, which includes Olympic gold medalist and U.S. teammate Alysa Liu. Japanese skaters Kaori Sakamoto, Ami Nakai, Yuma Kagiyama and Riku Miura, among others, will also be performing.

Related: Congratulations Pour In for U.S. Figure Skater Ilia Malinin After Personal Decision

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Olympics section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.