The United States figure skating team clinched the gold medal in the team event at the World Figure Skating Championships, triumphing over Japan in a tightly contested match on March 10, 2024. The standout performance came from Ilia Malinin, who anchored the American effort with a challenging routine, despite some missteps.
The competition kicked off with the pairs team of Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea. They faced pressure as the Americans’ initial representatives, delivering a smooth free skate that included a few minor errors but crucially no falls. Their performance secured them a fourth-place finish among the five competing teams.
Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto set a high standard by skating a flawless program filled with triple jumps, earning first place and positioning herself as a frontrunner for the individual women’s event. With the United States trailing, the responsibility fell on Amber Glenn to elevate the team’s standing in the women’s segment. Glenn managed to land her triples but struggled with overall execution, finishing third, which left the teams tied.
The tie meant that the deciding factor would be the performance of the male skaters from both teams. The U.S. turned to their star, Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God.” His program included a series of difficult jumps, but he opted to skip the quad axel, a move he previously deemed part of “50 percent of my full potential.” Despite this, Malinin executed a series of challenging maneuvers that ultimately outperformed Japan’s Shun Sato, who delivered a cleaner routine but lacked the technical difficulty.
Italy’s Matteo Rizzo rounded out the podium with a strong performance, securing the bronze medal for his team. The overall result marked a significant achievement for Team USA, who finished with a total score that eclipsed Japan’s, thus securing the gold medal.
Malinin’s decision to hold back on the quad axel raised expectations for his future performances, as he continues to be a pivotal figure in American figure skating. The win not only highlighted the strength of the U.S. team but also set the stage for an exciting competition in the individual events ahead.
