Shocking Russian-American Quad God Both Falters and Wins Grand Prix opener. French skating prodigy delivers performance of a lifetime.
Nathan Chen's Tumultuous Return to Competition
After a season filled with injuries and subpar performances, three-time world champion Nathan Chen struggled mightily in his Grand Prix opener, Skate America. Despite landing a historic quadruple Axel in the short program, a shaky performance in the free skate saw him finish second to his training mate, Ilia Malinin.
Chen's free skate was marred by several falls and errors, including a downgraded quadruple Lutz and a missed combination jump. Malinin, on the other hand, skated a clean and confident program, landing four quadruple jumps and earning a personal best score.
The results were a major upset and raised questions about Chen's form heading into the Olympic season. Chen will need to improve significantly if he wants to reclaim his world title and challenge for Olympic gold.
The Rise of Ilia Malinin
Ilia Malinin's victory at Skate America was a breakout performance for the 17-year-old skater. Malinin, who is known for his high-flying jumps, landed four quadruple jumps in his free skate, including a quadruple Axel, a quadruple Lutz, and a quadruple toe loop. His performance earned him a personal best score and the highest technical score of the competition..
Malinin's victory is a sign of the changing guard in men's figure skating. The young Russian-American skater is one of a new generation of skaters who are pushing the boundaries of the sport with their incredible athleticism and technical skill.
French Skating Prodigy Delivers Performance of a Lifetime
While Nathan Chen and Ilia Malinin stole the headlines at Skate America, it was 16-year-old French skater Adam Siao Him Fa who delivered the most awe-inspiring performance of the competition.
In the short program, Siao Him Fa landed a breathtaking quadruple Lutz-triple toe loop combination, a jump that has only been landed by a handful of skaters in competition. He then followed it up with a clean free skate, landing three quadruple jumps and earning a personal best score. His elegant and balletic skating style left the audience in awe.
Siao Him Fa's performance was a reminder that France has a rich tradition of producing world-class figure skaters. He is a rising star in the sport and one to watch in the years to come.
Conclusion
The 2022-23 Grand Prix season has gotten off to an exciting start with some surprising results and breakout performances. Nathan Chen's struggles and Ilia Malinin's emergence as a major force in men's figure skating are just two of the storylines that will make this season one to remember.
With the Olympic Games just around the corner, the competition is sure to be fierce. Will Nathan Chen be able to regain his form and reclaim his title as the world's best skater? Or will a new generation of skaters, led by Ilia Malinin and Adam Siao Him Fa, take over the sport? Only time will tell.
