Ilia Malinin eyes three Olympic Games as Milano Cortina looms

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Gold medallist Ilia Malinin of the U.S. celebrates during the mens grand prix final medal ceremony.

REUTERS

LOS ANGELES – Ilia Malinin says he hopes to compete at three Olympic Games, starting with Italy in February, as the three-time U.S. men’s champion continues the rapid rise that has made him the gold medal favorite at the upcoming Milano Cortina Games.

Asked how long he plans to stay in the sport, the 21-year-old American said his goal is to skate through the 2026, 2030 and 2034 Olympic cycles, while acknowledging the physical demands of the ultra-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 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which kick off Sunday in St. Louis.

“Hopefully in those years I’ll become the fullest skater I can be.”

Earlier this month, Malinin won his third consecutive Grand Prix Final in record-setting fashion in Japan, becoming the first skater to land seven quad jumps in one program.

The Virginia native is also the only skater ever to land a quad axel in international competition and employs thrilling backflips to push the boundaries of the sport.

“I don’t know how much my body will handle it after all the jumps I’ve been doing so far, but that’s a goal for me to at least skate for another three Olympic cycles,” he said, adding that he is “playing everything by ear” based on his health and motivation.

Malinin said his approach to longevity is increasingly guided by managing his training