Ilia Malinin powers U.S. to Olympic gold in team figure skating competition

"Ilia Malinin's clutch free skate that scored 200.03 points gave the United States its second consecutive team figure skating gold medal Sunday at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. After Amber Glenn fought through a shaky free program that finished third and lost the United States its two-point lead, Malinin stepped up as only he could. He executed five quad jumps and won by nearly six points, even if he did not perform his signature quad axel."

"His U.S. teammates, cheering from the sideline box rose to their feet and pumped their fists after each of Malinin's jumping passes. When he landed his back flip, skating flawlessly through one foot, the packed crowd at Milano Ice Skating Arena roared. While Japan's Shun Sato scored a season's best to finish the competition, he could not match the technical prowess of Malinin, who is also the favorite to win individual gold later this week."

"In front of a raucous home crowd, Italy held off Georgia for the bronze medal behind a dazzling free skate from Matteo Rizzo, who dropped to his knees on the ice and cried after his performance had fans chanting "Italia!" before he even finished. He cried into the Italian flag in the kiss-and-cry after his season's best 179.62 points. With the first figure skating medal of the Milan-Cortina Games on the line, every skater fought for every fraction of a point."

Ilia Malinin delivered a 200.03-point free skate featuring five quadruple jumps to clinch the United States' second consecutive Olympic team figure skating gold at Milan-Cortina. Amber Glenn skated a shaky free program that placed third and cost the United States a two-point lead, prompting Malinin to step up. Malinin won by nearly six points despite not attempting his signature quad axel and recovering from a hand-down mistake by altering the back-half of his program. Japan's Shun Sato posted a season's best but could not match Malinin's technical content. Italy earned bronze, led by Matteo Rizzo's season-best 179.62 and emotional free skate.

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