Ilia Malinin and Alysa Liu Lead 2025 World Figure Skating Championships After Historic Short Programs

Malinin sets a career-best score in the men's short program, while Liu marks a remarkable comeback by taking the lead in the women's event.

Ilia Malinin, nicknamed the 'Quad God,' scored 110.41 in the men's short program, the fourth-highest score in the event's history, solidifying his position as the favorite for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Alysa Liu, returning to competition after a three-year retirement, leads the women's competition with a score of 74.58, her highest-ever in an international short program.
Japan's Yuma Kagiyama closely trails Malinin in the men's competition with a score of 107.09, setting up a highly anticipated free skate showdown on Saturday.
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan secured the pairs' title with a season-best performance, reclaiming their world champion status after a second-place finish last year.
The championships, held at Boston's TD Garden, also featured a tribute to 28 members of the skating community lost in a January plane crash, underscoring the resilience of the sport's community.