Ilia Malinin holds off resurgent Japan to seal repeat US team figure skating gold

"The United States held off a late charge from Japan to retain the Olympic team figure skating title on Sunday, with Ilia Malinin delivering in the men's free skate to secure gold after three days of competition. Japan finished with silver, while host nation Italy claimed bronze. American hopes had rested heavily on the 21-year-old Malinin after a below-par short program on Saturday left the defending champions vulnerable heading into the final day."

"But the self-styled Quad God produced when it mattered most, leading the men's free skate segment to seal the title and ensure the team gold remained in US hands. Japan had entered the final day trailing the United States by five points but closed the gap dramatically thanks to a standout performance from world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara in the pairs free skate."

"The duo opened with a triple twist lift and finished with Kihara raising Miura overhead into their closing pose, earning a season-best 155.55 points that left them in tears in the kiss-and-cry area. "We were trying to aim for about 145 or a little bit higher, and when we saw that it was 155, there was so much joy," Miura said. "We were overwhelmed with emotions." The result cut the US lead to just two points before Malinin's decisive skate secured another Olympic team title for the Americans."

Ilia Malinin delivered a decisive men's free skate that secured the United States the Olympic team figure skating gold after three days of competition. Japan earned silver and host nation Italy took bronze. The U.S. defending champions faced vulnerability after Malinin's below-par short program, but his strong final performance sealed the victory. Japan narrowed a five-point deficit largely because of world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara's standout pairs free skate, which produced a season-best 155.55 points and emotional reactions in the kiss-and-cry area. The result briefly cut the U.S. lead to two points before Malinin's skate clinched the title.

Read at www.theguardian.com