Ilia Malinin Lands Quad Axel While Winning Second Straight US Figure Skating Title

Ilia Malinin (R) celebrates with fans at the U.S. figure skating championships in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan. 28, 2024. Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo

Ilia Malinin established such a big lead after his peerless short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships that the phenom’s free skate Sunday was less a competition and more a coronation.

Even though kings sometimes fall down.