"Ilia Malinin beat rival Shun Sato in a head-to-head showdown at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday night, helping the U.S. defend its team figure skating gold medal by breaking a deadlock with Japan in the final session of the competition. The 21-year-old nicknamed the "Quad God" landed five quadruple jumps and scored 200.03 points for his free skate, atoning for his mediocre short program -- at least by his lofty standards -- one night earlier."
"Sato followed him with three quads in his program, but he could only manage 194.86 points, leaving the Japanese with a second straight silver medal in the team event. The U.S. ended up on 69 points while Japan finished with 68. Matteo Rizzo delivered one of the best free skates of his career as Italy was trying to hold onto the bronze medal, allowing the host nation to finish third with 60 points."
Ilia Malinin beat Shun Sato in a head-to-head matchup at the Milan Cortina Olympics, landing five quadruple jumps and scoring 200.03 in the free skate. Shun Sato produced three quads and totaled 194.86, leaving Japan with 68 points and the U.S. with 69. Matteo Rizzo delivered one of his best free skates, lifting Italy to bronze with 60 points. Georgia placed fourth with 56 and remains without a Winter Games medal. The U.S. five-point lead had evaporated after pairs and women's free skates, but Malinin's performance broke the deadlock and clinched gold.
Read at ESPN.com
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