Overview
- Malinin broke his own free skate record in December with 238.24 points by landing seven quadruple jumps, including the sport’s only ratified quadruple Axel.
- He enters the Olympics unbeaten for two years as a two‑time reigning world champion and the winner of the past three Grand Prix Finals.
- He says a quintuple jump is a goal for after the Games, and the ISU has already assigned base values to several quints, excluding the Axel.
- ISU‑linked officials say modest adjustments under consideration for next season include adding choreographic elements and reducing the number of jumps.
- Experts warn that the jump race is accelerating injuries and eroding balance with artistry, even as some choreographers argue top skaters now blend both at unprecedented levels.