“Quad God” Ilia Malinin (USA) did his nickname justice once more and jumped to the lead in the Men’s Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Grenoble (FRA) on Friday.

ISU World Champion Malinin reigned supreme, skating to a confident lead with 12 points to spare. Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama sits in second, followed by Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan. 

Top Grand Prix qualifier Malinin skated last and ended the competition day on a high note with a superb performance of his program to “Running”. The U.S. Champion reeled off a quad flip, triple Axel, quad Lutz-triple toe as well as two level-four spins. The quad Lutz was called slightly under-rotated but Malinin scored 105.43 points. 

“It was such a fun experience competing and performing here. I felt very supported. It made me feel a lot more excited and gave me energy,” Malinin said. 

Ilia Malinin (USA) has a comfortable lead but he will not rest on his laurels at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Grenoble © ISU

But he would not lay his cards for the Free Skating on the table. “You will see, it’s a surprise. I think it’s exciting when the audience come and don’t know what to expect,” Malinin answered when asked whether he will go for his famous quad Axel. “My main goal is to be proud of what I have achieved.”

Kagiyama fell on his opening quadruple Salchow in his performance to “The Sound of Silence” but recovered instantly to land a quad toe-triple toe and triple Axel. His spins and footwork were exquisite and the 2024 ISU Four Continents Champion earned 93.49 points. 

Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) was happy with his Short Program score but knows he will have to produce his best in the free skate in Grenoble © ISU

“I think I did well even if I could have done the (quad) Salchow better. The timing was off and I turned too much so I couldn’t control the rotation, that was not good,” Kagiyama commented. 

“I was confident and then happy when I saw the score. For sure my objective at the end is to be first but the short program is the program and the free is the free, so I’ll focus even more for tomorrow and I will do my best.”

Shaidorov had come in as a substitute but proved that he also belongs into the ISU Grand Prix Final. The Cup of China silver medalist nailed a quad Lutz-triple toe, triple Axel and quad toe, but lost some points on his change sit spin that garnered a level one. Shaidorov netted 91.26 points. 

Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan claims he did not expect to be in the top three at the ISU Grand Prix Final but is delighted to be there © ISU

“I have a lot of emotions and I get the energy, I really want to show a clean skate and the combination and get to enjoy it,” Shaidorov noted. “It’s an interesting experience (to be in the Final) - at first I was not supposed to participate in it, and then I came here and the Grand Prix in China recently had ended and I was quite tired after China – having two competitions back to back is hard – but I am happy to be able to perform all I can.

“I did not expect it (being in the top three), but I’m happy about it and I will try to keep my position or get perhaps even higher.”

Shun Sato (JPN) is not far behind in fourth place on 86.28 points. Daniel Grassl (ITA) came fifth on 81.26 points, while Kevin Aymoz (FRA) placed sixth (68.82 points).

For full entries, results and further information visit the ISU Grand Prix Final event site.

What and when 

The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is as follows:

Thursday, December 5: Junior Pairs, Junior Women’s Short Programs, Junior Ice Dance Rhythm Dance, Pairs & Women’s Short Programs
Friday, December 6: Junior Men’s Short Program, Junior Women’s Free Skating, Rhythm Dance, Pairs Free Skating, Men’s Short Program    
Saturday, December 7: Women’s & Junior Men’s Free Skating, Junior Free Dance, Junior Pairs Free Skating, Free Dance, Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, December 10: Exhibition Gala

How did Skaters qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final? 

Skaters/Couples competed in two events and collected points towards the qualification for the Final. Check out the complete ISU Grand Prix Standings:

Women             Men     Pair Skating     Ice Dance

For further information see the General Announcement of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. Please visit the ISU Grand Prix page for full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

• 18 - 20 Oct 2024                       Skate America in Allen, TX (USA)
• 25 - 27 Oct 2024                       Skate Canada International in Halifax (CAN)
• 01 - 03 Nov 2024                      Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
• 08 - 10 Nov 2024                      NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN)
• 15- 17 Nov 2024                       Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)  
• 22 - 24 Nov 2024                      Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

• 05 - 08 Dec 2024                      Grenoble (FRA)

About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.