ST. LOUIS, Missouri — The men’s event opened to a packed arena at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and the energy never dipped as the short program unfolded into a clear hierarchy of contenders and challengers.
At the top, Ilia Malinin delivered a performance that surprised even himself. The 21-year-old, widely viewed as a lock for the U.S. Olympic team and a favorite for gold in February, had indicated he might skate conservatively. Instead, he unleashed a season’s best — and personal best — 115.10, the highest short program score ever recorded. Skating to ‘The Lost Crown (Prince of Persia)’ by 2WEI, Malinin looked relaxed and joyful from the opening pose, smiling through his jump passes, lip-syncing to the music and feeding off the home crowd as every element clicked cleanly.
“I came here, I was going to play it safe, but I was so amazed,” Malinin said after fans showered the ice with Toothless plush toys — a nod to his well-known fondness for the character. The performance put him more than 25 points clear of the field and firmly in command heading into the free skate.
"This environment was just so incredible," Malinin said of the crowd in St. Louis. They're so pumped up, so fired up, I felt support from every single person in the stands, and they really helped me get through my program. That was just so meaningful for me, and I'm sure for all the other athletes, it was such a good experience, and I'm looking forward to that again."
Behind him, Tomoki Hiwatashi surged into 2nd with 89.26, delivering one of the night’s most crowd-engaging skates. Performing to “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hiwatashi attacked every jump with confidence, played directly to the audience and punctuated the routine with a triumphant fist pump mid-program. All of his jump passes were clean, earning him a standing ovation and positioning him squarely in the podium hunt.
"Each year, I felt myself getting better," Hiwatashi said of moving his training base to Japan. "I feel like I was able to kind of gain some confidence from that."
In 3rd, Jason Brown reminded the field why he remains one of the most beloved and consistent skaters in U.S. men’s skating. His ‘Riverdance’ short program — which first went viral when he debuted it in 2014 — showcased elite skating skills and an effortless connection with the audience that has defined his 12-year senior career. At age 31, Brown is chasing another Olympic berth; if selected, he would become the oldest U.S. man to compete at the Games since 1932, having made his first Olympic team as a 19-year-old in 2014. His 88.49 kept him firmly in medal position.
"In the last four years, I've really gone about the seasons very differently," Brown said. "The end game, the goal is the Olympic Games and being as prepared as possible to represent the US to the very best of my ability in Milan. So everything we did up to this season and even the season prior, were to kind of prepare me for that moment."
Just off the podium in 4th, Maxim Naumov delivered a deeply-emotional skate to Chopin’s “Nocturne No. 20,” earning 85.72. Naumov, who lost his parents in the American Airlines Flight 5342 crash in Washington, D.C., channeled quiet elegance and refined skating skills into a performance that visibly moved the St. Louis crowd. Fans rose for a prolonged standing ovation as he struck his final pose, and Naumov was seen holding a photo of his parents while awaiting his score, fighting back tears in the moment.
In 5th, Andrew Torgashev posted 84.99 after an imperfect skate. The 2025 U.S. silver medalist entered the season considered a favorite for the third Olympic berth, but a difficult Grand Prix fall campaign increased the pressure. An early fall on his planned quad toe loop jump disrupted his short program to “Maybe I, Maybe You” by Scorpions, though he regrouped with controlled, expressive skating through the remainder of the performance to keep himself in contention.
Sixth place went to Daniel Martynov with 81.63. Martynov trains with two-time Olympic silver medalist Brian Orser and Olympic bronze medalist Tracy Wilson and the 19-year-old put out a promising performance to ‘Formidable’ by Stromae. Seventh belonged to Jacob Sanchez, who impressed in his senior national debut with 81.27. The teenaged New Yorker delivered a poised, high-energy skate that underscored the depth of the next generation, and he already has stated his intention to remain in competitive form through at least the 2030 Olympic cycle.
In 8th, Liam Kapeikis earned a season’s best 78.86 with a soulful short program to 'Unchained Melody,' marked by controlled edges and musical commitment. Kai Kovar followed in 9th on 76.91, with Lucius Kazanecki rounding out the top 10 at 75.72.
Veteran presence anchored 11th, where Jimmy Ma, competing in his 12th U.S. Championships, scored 75.56. The 2024 Four Continents bronze medalist skated a committed but imperfect program to a remix of Stravinsky’s “Firebird,” showing the competitive fire that fueled his breakout season last year.
Further down the standings, Goku Endo placed 12th with 72.68, while Lorenzo Elano, the 2025 U.S. junior champion, finished 13th in his senior nationals debut after an uneven but emotionally charged “Les Misérables” program. Samuel Mindra ended the night in 14th with 65.02, ahead of Emmanuel Savary in 15th on 60.21, Michael Xie in 16th on 59.95, Will Annis in 17th on 54.95 and Ken Mikawa in 18th with 51.69.
The men’s free skate will determine final placements and Olympic momentum as the championships continue in St. Louis. The 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championship continues live on NBC and USA Network, streaming on Peacock.
Men's singles results
- Ilia Malinin – 115.10
- Tomoki Hiwatashi – 89.26
- Jason Brown – 88.49
- Maxim Naumov – 85.72
- Andrew Torgashev – 84.99
- Daniel Martynov – 81.63
- Jacob Sanchez – 81.27
- Liam Kapeikis – 78.86
- Kai Kovar – 76.91
- Lucius Kazanecki – 75.72
- Jimmy Ma – 75.56
- Goku Endo – 72.68
- Lorenzo Elano – 71.65
- Samuel Mindra – 65.02
- Emmanuel Savary – 60.21
- Michael Xie – 59.95
- Will Annis – 54.95
- Ken Mikawa – 51.69