Ilia Malinin wins 4th consecutive U.S. Figure Skating title with dialed-back performance

ST. LOUIS (AP) — World champions and Olympic favorites Ilia Malinin and the ice dance team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates turned the final night of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday into less of a competition and more of a coronation.

Malinin easily won his fourth straight title despite a dialed-back free skate that included just three quads — still more than anyone in the field, but far fewer than the seven it could include. And the duo of Chock and Bates won their record seventh championship with a flamenco-style free dance set to a version of “Paint It Black” from the dystopian sci-fi Western show “Westworld.”

They will be the anchors for a powerful American team headed to the Milan Cortina Games in less than a month.

“I decided not to go for any risks. I wanted to play it safe, because hopefully in a few weeks I have to go again,” Malinin said.

Malinin finished with 324.88 points to continue an unbeaten streak stretching more than two years. Andrew Torgashev was a distant second with 267.62 points, while Maxim Naumov finished third by less than a tenth of a point over Jacob Sanchez.

In doing so, Naumov may have fulfilled a dream he held along with his late parents.

Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were among those killed when an American Airlines flight collided with a helicopter and crashed into the icy Potomac River in January 2025. One of the last conversations the couple had with their son was about what it would take for the 24-year-old Naumov to earn one of three men's spots on the upcoming Olympic team.

“I gritted my teeth on everything. I fought on everything. If I had to crawl, I would crawl to the end,” Naumov said, “but I made it.”

Chock and Bates, the three-time reigning world champions, wound up with 228.87 points following the free dance. Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik were second with 213.65 while Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko were third with 206.95.

Those three are expected to fill out the American dance team for the Olympics when official selections are announced Sunday.

“The feeling that we got from the audience today was unlike anything I've ever felt before,” said Chock, who along with Bates helped the Americans win team gold at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, but finished a disappointing fourth in the ice dance.

“Our performance was definitely the best we've skated the free dance all year,” Bates said, “and it shows the plan is working, and we like to build momentum through the season. It's a great feeling going into a big event knowing you skated well the previous event.”

Chock and Bates will be heavy favorites to win gold next month in Italy.

Just like their 21-year-old teammate from Fairfax, Virginia.

Malinin was somewhat controversially left off the American team for Beijing, when U.S. Figure Skating officials chose the more experienced Jason Brown over him. Rather than sulk, the self-styled “Quad God” with the unique, avant-garde style turned the four years since then into an unstoppable march through just about every competition he has entered.

This season, he won the the lower-level Lombardia Trophy, the Grand Prix de France, Skate America and his third consecutive Grand Prix Final, the most prestigious event outside of the Olympics and the world championships.

Skating to a musical medley featuring his own voice-over, Malinin opened with a quad flip, then landed a triple axel, before hitting a triple lutz rather than a quad lutz. Malinin added a quad lutz and a quad salchow-triple axel combination later in the program, almost as if to remind folks that even when he's playing it safe, he can still land the big jumps whenever he wants.

Skating to “In This Shirt” by The Irrepressibles, Naumov landed an opening quad salchow but tripled his other planned quad. He was otherwise solid on his jumps, other than spinning out on his last combination jump, and earned his own standing ovation.

It was an emotional week for Naumov, who brought to the kiss-and-cry area an old photo of him with his parents.

The 24-year-old Torgashev, who is half Ukrainian and still has family in the war-torn country, landed both of his quads during a clean free skate, one of them in combination with a double axel. He also one-handed cartwheeled across the ice, and he punched the air at the finish, once he was done spinning like a top in the middle of the ice.

It was an emphatic statement by Torgashev for his inclusion on the Olympic team.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Maxim Naumov holds a photo of his parents after competing during the men's free skate competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Ilia Malinin competes during the men's free skate competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko skate during the free dance competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik skate during the free dance competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik react to their scores after the free dance competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik skate during the free dance competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates skate during the free dance competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

The NFL’s wild-card round kicked off with two wacky games that came down to the final seconds. A rematch of the 2022 NFC championship game highlights the rest of the weekend.

The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and their inconsistent offense are home against Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers.

Philly ended Purdy’s impressive rookie season three years ago by knocking him out of the NFC title game in the first quarter and then forced him back in to hand off after giving backup Josh Johnson a concussion in a lopsided victory.

The three other matchups are: Bills-Jaguars, Chargers-Patriots and Texans-Steelers.

The Los Angeles Rams rallied for a 34-31 victory over the Carolina Panthers in the playoff opener. Then, Caleb Williams led the Chicago Bears back from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Green Bay Packers 31-27 on Saturday night.

Pro Picks examines the rest of the games with lines from BetMGM Sportsbook:

Line: Bills minus 1 1/2

Josh Allen and the Bills didn’t win the AFC East after a five-year run so now they have to take the road route as the No. 6 seed. Buffalo’s Super Bowl hopes have been dashed by Kansas City four times in the past five years. But they don’t have to worry about Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs this time.

NFL rushing champion James Cook takes some pressure off Allen, the reigning NFL MVP who is still seeking a Super Bowl appearance. Cook is facing the NFL’s best run defense. The Jaguars allowed 85.6 yards per game and no running back got 75 yards against them.

Rookie coach Liam Coen led an impressive nine-win turnaround in Jacksonville, helping Trevor Lawrence have his best season. The underrated Jaguars don’t get the attention they deserve but this team beat No. 1 seed Denver on the road in Week 16 and closed with eight straight wins. Lawrence is facing the NFL’s No. 1 pass defense but the Bills were 28th against the run.

If the game comes down to a long field goal, the advantage goes to the Jaguars. Cam Little set the NFL record with a 68-yarder earlier in the season, made a 67-yarder in Week 18 and nailed one from 70 in the preseason.

Buffalo is 0-2 in the playoffs against Jacksonville.

BILLS: 26-23

Line: Eagles minus 6

The 49ers missed an opportunity to get the No. 1 seed and a bye when they lost to Seattle 13-3. This season might have been coach Kyle Shanahan’s best season. The Niners lost their two best players on defense, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, to season-ending injuries. Purdy missed eight games and their group of wide receivers was decimated by injuries. McCaffrey led the offense with an all-everything season. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh held his unit together but now they’ve lost linebacker Tatum Bethune for the rest of the season with a groin injury. Star left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) and wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) will be evaluated later this week to determine whether they can return after missing Week 18.

It’s a tough task going to Philadelphia to face a rested team. The Eagles sat many of their starters and missed an opportunity to get the No. 2 seed. Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and the rest of Philadelphia’s star-studded offense were inconsistent under first-year coordinator Kevin Patullo. But Vic Fangio’s defense is one of the league’s best.

EAGLES: 24-20

Line: Patriots minus 3 1/2

Despite a depleted offensive line, Justin Herbert got the Chargers to this point. Now, he’s seeking his first career playoff win in six years. He’s got a defense that can help him get there. Coordinator Jesse Minter’s unit ranked fifth this season. Edge rushers Khalil Mack and rookie Tuli Tuipulotu and hybrid safety Derwin James are standouts. It’s going to be a big challenge for Drake Maye in his first playoff game.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel knows how to win big games. So does Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. Home-field advantage is a big factor in this one. The Chargers were 9-8 ATS, but 4-1 as underdogs this season. New England was 12-5 ATS.

PATRIOTS: 22-21

Line: Texans minus 3

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud have made the playoffs in each of their three years together in Houston, overcoming an 0-3 start this season. The NFL’s No. 1 defense led by Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre makes the Texans a Super Bowl contender despite a No. 5 seed. That’s why they’re a road favorite.

The Steelers won the AFC North when Baltimore’s Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt wide right. Aaron Rodgers was in vintage form in the fourth quarter to lead Pittsburgh without DK Metcalf. T.J. Watt came back and instantly made an impact.

Houston has never won a playoff game on the road, going 0-5. Pittsburgh has lost six straight playoff games but the Steelers have won 23 consecutive home games on Monday night since 1991.

TEXANS: 23-16

Last week: Straight up: 8-8. Against spread: 9-7.

Overall: Straight up: 184-87-1. Against spread: 143-121-8.

Prime time: Straight up: 32-25-1. Against spread: 26-32.

Best Bet: Straight up: 12-6. Against spread: 8-9-1.

Upset Special: Straight up: 13-5. Against spread: 14-4.

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) walks off the field following an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen pauses during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)