Two-time and reigning ISU World Champion Ilia Malinin (USA) once more ruled supreme in the Men’s Short Program as the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2026 continued Thursday in Prague, Czechia. The crowd of 13,444 at the O2 Arena witnessed a fantastic competition full of spectacular performances and surprises.

Ilia Malinin strikes back to lead Men’s Short Program

Defending ISU World Champion Ilia Malinin (USA) scored a personal best to take the lead with 10 points to spare ahead of Adam Siao Him Fa of France. Estonia’s Aleksandr Selevko pulled off the biggest surprise of the day by coming third.

All eyes were on Malinin. How would he do after his disappointment at the Olympic Winter Games?

“Watch the battle unfold” was his message to fans – and that’s what they got to see. The ISU Grand Prix Final Champion opened his program to “The Lost Crown” with a mighty quad flip followed by a triple Axel and a quad Lutz-triple toe combination. His spins were spot-on as well, and the crowd roared when Malinin gave them what they wanted to see – a backflip. Malin raised his personal best to 111.29 points.

“The audience was also cheering for the whole program, it was amazing. It was such a good feeling,” Malinin said.

“I got to the ice and was in this zone and let everything happen. I was definitely coming back to prove myself that it [his sub-par performance at the Olympic Games] was a one-time thing, but now I realize this is much more than just skating. It’s being able to go and enjoy and have fun.

“I tell myself that’s in the past already, it’s over, you have to get up and keep going,” he continued, referring to his disappointment from Milan. “Everything happens for a reason. As for the free [program in Prague], we’ll see a program being finished, that’s for sure.”

Ilia Malinin (USA) puts the disappointment of Milan behind him in Prague, Czechia © ISU

“Vitruvian Man” Siao Him Fa produced a great performance of his routine inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, hitting a quad toe-triple toe and quad Salchow. The Frenchman finished his performance at the boards, right in front of his coaches, who were cheering and celebrating. The two-time ISU European Champion scored 101.85 points.

“It was very fun today. I was completely enjoying it,” Siao Him Fa said. “To be fair, I was also very stressed. But as soon as the music started, I let myself go and let my body do it by itself.

“Right after the Olympics I had Art on Ice, so two weeks of shows, and the two weeks of preparations. During Art on Ice I tried to keep in shape and to keep training. It was good to have the shows for my head, I really needed it to skate in a different atmosphere and arena. It was great for me.”

Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) in action in Prague, Czechia © ISU

Selevko really got the crowd going with his eccentric performance to “Kiss” by Prince that featured a quad toe, triple Axel and exquisite footwork. The 2024 ISU European silver medalist posted a new personal best of 96.49 points.

“I was nervous and now am extremely happy that this best skate happened at the end of this season,” Selevko said.

“Honestly, the first two weeks after the Olympic Games, I didn’t plan to come to the Worlds. Maybe no expectations helped me to skate like that. I was in good physical shape the whole time but couldn’t deal with nerves, and now everything worked out,” he added.

Estonia’s ‘extremely happy’ Aleksandr Selevko, who sits in third place after the Short Program in Prague, Czechia © ISU

Olympic bronze medalist Shun Sato (JPN) came fourth with a strong performance to “Ladies in Lavender”, and remains within striking distance of the podium, on 95.84 points. Stephen Gogolev (CAN) set a personal best of 94.38 points to come fifth. Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) missed his planned triple Axel to finish sixth on 93.80 points.

Find more comments from the skaters in the Quick Quotes and Press Conference section on the ISU website.

What and when 

The schedule of the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2026 is as follows:

Wednesday, March 25: Women’s & Pairs Short Programs
Thursday, March 26: Men’s Short Program & Pairs Free Skating
Friday, March, 27: Rhythm Dance & Women’s Free Skating
Saturday, March 28: Men’s Free Skating & Free Dance
Sunday, March 29:  Exhibition Gala & ISU Figure Skating Awards