In Nagoya, Japan, Ilia Malinin reminded everyone why he’s the front-runner for Milan Cortina 2026, surging back from 3rd place after the short program with a historic free skate, complete with the highest free skate score ever recorded and a never-been-done seven quad jumps, to win his third consecutive Grand Prix Final title, leaving the rest of the field nearly 30 points behind.

Malinin, who trailed after a short program that included a costly error on a planned quadruple Axel combination, unleashed a high-difficulty free skate with a complete seven quadruple jumps worth 238.24 points (146.07 technical, 92.17 components) to win the segment by more than 40 points. His total of 332.29 vaulted him from third to first overall, extending a dominant stretch that already includes back-to-back world titles and an undefeated Grand Prix season. With every event, the 21-year-old American further solidifies his status as the Olympic favorite in men’s singles heading into 2026.

Overnight leader, Yuma Kagiyama, settled for silver with 302.41 points after a fourth-place free skate. The 2022 Olympic silver medalist had set the tone in the short program with a stunning performance built on speed, edge quality and precision. In the free skate, Kagiyama leaned into the strengths he’s emphasized this season — skating skills and artistry — earning the highest component mark of the night at 92.91. But with a 100.73 technical score that lagged well behind Malinin’s, a few key jumping mistakes opened the door and made it impossible to hold the lead.

Countryman Shun Sato completed the podium in bronze with 292.08 points. Skating to “The Firebird,” Sato delivered a powerful, emotionally-charged free program that scored 194.02. While not entirely mistake-free, it was enough to keep him ahead of the surging Daniel Grassl and secure a second straight Grand Prix Final medal. For Sato, who owns Grand Prix wins in China and multiple Four Continents medals, another podium on home ice is a major boost to his Olympic résumé in an ultra-deep Japanese men’s field.

Italy’s Daniel Grassl produced one of the night’s biggest statements in the free skate, rebounding from fourth in the short to finish second in the free skate with 194.72 points. His combined total of 288.72 left him just off the podium in fourth overall, but the performance underscored how dangerous he can be when his technical content clicks. The five-time Italian champion, whose father is from Cortina d’Ampezzo, remains well positioned in Italy’s mathematical selection race for one of the two men’s spots at the home Olympics in 2026.

Two-time European champion, Adam Siao Him Fa, finished fifth with 258.64 points, capping a season in which he again mixed big jumping ambition with complex, art-driven programs. His 180.15-point free skate showed flashes of the form that once carried him to come-from-behind wins, but a few landing issues kept him from climbing into the medal fight this time.

World silver medalist, Mikhail Shaidorov, rounded out the field in sixth with 242.19 points. His 170.89-point free skate confirmed the Kazakh star’s ability to stack quads and chase high base value, even on an off day. With a world medal and multiple historic jump combinations already on his résumé, he remains a serious factor in the race for an Olympic podium in Milan.

When the scores were tallied, the story was familiar but still staggering: Malinin’s technical ceiling once again reset the standard, while Kagiyama and Sato’s blend of edge work and musicality kept Japan firmly in the chase. With Grassl, Siao Him Fa and Shaidorov all pushing the envelope behind them, the men’s event at the Winter Games is shaping up to be a showdown between raw jumping revolution and refined all-around skating — and in Nagoya, Malinin proved he’s still the man everyone else is chasing.