Ilia Malinin demonstrated exceptional skill at the Grand Prix de France in Angers, France, on October 18, 2025. The U.S. figure skater, known as the “quad god,” scored an impressive 105.22 points in his short program. This score put him nearly 10 points ahead of his nearest competitor, Nika Egadze from Georgia, who earned 95.67 points. Kao Miura from Japan followed in third place with 87.25 points.
Malinin’s Unmatched Performance
Malinin’s routine featured a quadruple flip, a quadruple lutz-triple toeloop combination, and a breathtaking backflip. The performance highlighted his technical prowess and set a solid foundation for the free skate scheduled for Sunday. Notably, Adam Siao Him Fa, a French favorite, ranked fifth in the short program, ending his streak of three consecutive wins at this event.
Emotional Moments for U.S. Skater Maxim Naumov
Maxim Naumov placed ninth in his first Grand Prix following a tragic family loss. He received a warm welcome from the audience, as his parents, both world champion skaters, tragically passed away in a plane crash earlier this year.
A Surprising Victory for Ami Nakai
Ami Nakai made headlines with her victory in the women’s events. Competing in her inaugural senior Grand Prix, she outperformed three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto. Nakai achieved a personal best score of 149.08 in the free skate, totaling 227.08 points overall.
Women’s Podium Results
- Ami Nakai – 227.08 (First Place)
- Kaori Sakamoto – 224.23 (Second Place)
- Rion Sumiyoshi – 216.06 (Third Place)
Nakai expressed her disbelief and joy following her debut win, reflecting on her prior success of a bronze medal in the 2023 world junior championships. Sakamoto finished second after experiencing minor errors during her spins.
Ice Dance and Pairs Highlights
In ice dance, the British duo Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson topped the leaderboard with a score of 84.38, showcasing their performance to a Spice Girls rhythm. Lithuania’s Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius secured second place with 80.98 points, while Guillaume Cizeron of France, a 2022 Olympic champion, finished third despite a fall during his routine.
Pairs Results
- Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (Japan) – 219.15 (First Place)
- Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps (Canada) – 197.66 (Second Place)
- Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko (Hungary) – 192.76 (Third Place)
Miura and Kihara showcased their dominant performance with a margin of victory of over 21 points despite some initial errors in their free skate.
The Grand Prix de France marks the first of six crucial regular-season events leading up to a championship final in December, providing essential practice for athletes aiming for success at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.
