Malinin sets free skating world record to win Grand Prix Final

The 2025-26 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final concluded here on Saturday, with Ilia Malinin and Alysa Liu of the United States taking the men's and women's singles titles respectively, reported Xinhua.

In the men's free skating, two-time world champion Malinin, who was third after the short program, staged a remarkable comeback. He scored 238.24 points in the free skating, breaking his own world record of 228.97 set earlier this season at the Grand Prix in Canada. With a total of 332.29 points, the 21-year-old claimed the title to remain unbeaten throughout this season's Grand Prix series, completing a hat-trick of Grand Prix Final victories.

"I felt like my program was at 90 percent, so there's always more to work to do," said Malinin. "My goal at the Olympics is to make sure that I'm prepared and ready and in the right mindset to go out there and to really deliver my best."

Short program leader Yuma Kagiyama of Japan took the silver with 302.41 points, while his compatriot Shun Sato earned 292.08 points to secure the bronze.

In the women's free skate, world champion Alysa Liu, who ranked second after the short program, delivered a strong performance, scoring 146.70 points in the free skate and 222.49 points in total to claim her first Grand Prix Final title.

Japan's Ami Nakai took silver with 220.89 points. Sakamoto Kaori, who recorded the highest free skate score of the day with 149.40 points, climbed from fifth after the short program to finish third with 218.80 points. Short program leader and world bronze medalist Mone Chiba fell twice in the free skate and slipped to fifth with 210.22 points.

In the free dance, Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States produced a steady performance to score 131.68 points in the free and 220.42 points in total, sealing the title of ice dance and completing a Grand Prix hat-trick this season.

Chinese skaters shone in the junior pairs free skate. Guo Rui and Zhang Yiwen delivered solid performances on high-difficulty elements such as throw jumps and lifts to score 113.21 points in the free skate and 177.05 points overall to take the gold.

"Today our throw jumps were executed quite well. Although we were a bit nervous, the transitions between the elements were much smoother than before," Zhang said. "Being able to compete with so many strong pairs at the Grand Prix Final and to stand on the top of the podium is a huge encouragement for us."