Ari Zakarian: Malinin's Russian surname won't stop him from becoming a US hero

While Russians watched the Moscow part of the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, the USA hosted Skate America — the first part of the ISU Grand Prix. Although Russians were not allowed to participate in the international series, there was a Russian trace.
Ilia Malinin won the men's singles competition. He is the son of Russian figure skaters Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, who moved to the USA 30 years ago. Malinin's skate with five quads let the 17-year-old boy become the youngest Skate America winner in history. Now Ilia intends to win all the tournaments he competes in. Since summer, Ari Zakarian, Malinin's sports agent representing the skater, doesn't doubt his strength.

Zakarian knows how talented Ilia is, but even he was shocked after Malinin's brilliant performance in Massachusetts. Nevertheless, here is a big detailed interview with Zakarian about Ilia's past, present, and future. You will learn the following:

• why Malinin's performance at Skate America was so unique;
• how the Americans perceive Ilia;
• what is so special about Malinin as a figure skater;
• why nobody has tried to pursue such difficult elements;
• when we will see quintuple jumps and why Malinin will change figure skating;
• how similar Ilia is to Hanyu, Chen, and Plushenko.

— Ari, what do you think of Ilia's performance at Skate America, especially after 4th place in the short program?

— I haven't seen such a performance for a long time. It proves once again that figure skating is very cool: the emotions I experienced are impossible to convey. After Ilia's skate, people roared and rose from their seats. Seeing the 17-year-old making the audience so crazy was really worth it.

— Even Nathan Chen and Yuzuru Hanyu did not evoke so many emotions?

— They won the audience, too. But Malinin's skate is something fresh. You don't often see such a performance and such a reaction.

— Have US professional figure skaters reacted to Malinin's performance?

— They all shouted, ran to him for photos, hugged, and congratulated him. Watching Ilia's reaction was also very interesting: he was very cheerful and happy. It was a delight to see.

— How did Ilia himself react to his skate? Was he shocked or thought: "I wanted to do it and I did it, well done?"

— The latter. Ilia joked with everyone, gave interviews to everyone, and took pictures with everyone. Then he rested and came to the training session at 8:30. He is a good, positive, and kind young boy!

— What didn't work in the short program? He was only fourth and fell during the toe loop.

— It just happened. You also need to understand that 2022 Skate America was his first serious competition, especially as the arena was packed and tickets were sold out months before it even started. The main US federal channels broadcast the competition.
He performs the quadruple toe loop at his training sessions with his eyes closed. It happens, but nobody doubted that Ilia would outperform everyone during free skating. But few expected such a furor...

— What are Ilia's plans for the season? Have they changed after Skate America?

— He aims to win all competitions. We will have the Grand Prix of Espoo, then the Grand Prix Final, the national championship, and the world championship in Japan.

— Alexander Enbert said that Malinin was the future of figure skating, and all figure skaters would follow in his footsteps to raise their level. Do you agree?

— I do. Ilia has raised the bar and demonstrated such fantastic things that others will have to train and work differently.

— Please tell us how you got acquainted with Malinin.

— We just started working together. It's just an initial stage. I have known his parents since the 1990-s, they are good people. I have been following Ilia for several years. I heard about him from his coach Rafael Arutyunyan: "Watch him, he is very promising."

— What does your work with Malinin involve?

— I would honestly like to talk more about Ilia than about me. I believe I have quite a big experience. I have worked with Evgeni Plushenko, Irina Slutskaya, and many foreign athletes, Canadians and Americans. I have learned a lot to do what is important for an athlete. I try to use all my knowledge and connections in my work with Ilia.

— Ilia was the first in the world to land a quadruple axel. Has he hit the ceiling? What will be next?

— Ilia is just at the beginning of his career path. I hope there will be the right atmosphere around him. I want to do everything possible and do it correctly. I am very happy that I have an opportunity to work with him. Malinin is a very talented figure skater with tremendous rotation speed in the air during the jump.

— Why did Malinin manage to perform a quadruple Axel and others didn't?

— As I have said, Ilia has a tremendous rotation speed and is good at different techniques. Besides, he has a winning spirit and the right ambitions.

— Why is his rotation speed tremendous? Is it due to his physique, leg work, genetics, or something else?

— All these things and proper coaching. He is only 17. It is more possible to perform the most difficult elements at this age than when you are older. It is a good time to go ultra C if the athlete is properly trained and has a good team behind him.

— Given his potential and achievements at such a young age, can we say that he will dominate men's figure skating for years?

— I can't say that that's it, now Ilia will dominate. There is still a lot of work to be done. Japanese athletes are also very strong. Yuma Kagiyama is making very good progress, Shoma Uno improved a lot while working with Stéphane Lambiel. Japanese figure skaters will be Malinin's main opponents till the next Olympics. Their athletes are very soft and speedy, with cool gliding.

— Malinin doesn't have competitors in the USA, does he?

— We will be able to say so after the American championship. I don't want to say that Ilia is the best of the best. But I hope that in some 10 years, we will talk about Malinin as one of the greatest skaters, as we are talking about Hanyu, Chen, Plushenko, Yagudin.

— Is Malinin a favorite for the next world championship?

— Like other guys, he has the opportunity and strength to be at the top of the world championship. But the season will be extremely difficult, and his opponents are also strong. Japanese, French and Italian skaters also make good progress. We will see what happens next.

— Do the Japanese have people who can land a quad axel?

— We all remember that Hanyu was close. I think after Ilia will constantly perform it at competitions, other athletes will also take this direction. After all, now you have to improve even more to win.

However, some tried to jump it before. Initially, Artur Dmitriev started training the quad axel and had some good attempts. Progress is unstoppable. We all thought that this jump would be performed in the 2030-s, but it happened much earlier.

— Why did we manage to complete the quadruple axel only in 2022? Why couldn't we do it before?

— That's the evolution of the sport. Now we have a different technique and preparatory period. For example, in 2010 in Vancouver, only Plushenko and the Chinese landed a quadruple jump. And these were the Olympic Games! It's been 12 years — and there are almost no people who don't perform quads. Even those who have only done a triple axel before are now trying to land them.

— Will quintuple jumps appear soon?

— I think they will have appeared by the 2030-s. Maybe even earlier.

— What do we lack to perform them now?

— One should be very confident and prepared for it properly to complete such an element. Rotation jumps are dangerous, and the main thing is not to get injured. Whether or not Malinin manages to land a quintuple is up to the coaching staff. In my view, it is possible.

—You have worked with many prominent figure skaters, including Plushenko. Do you feel that Malinin is more talented than them?

— Everyone is talented in their own way. Plushenko and others contributed a lot to figure skating, that's why I cannot say that Malinin is the most talented skater.

When Evgeni appeared, everyone understood he was a superstar. I remember how he jumped 7 triple axels and 4 quads, in 1997, in Milan, I think. Then everyone's eyes opened wide. It was a statement.

And Hanyu. He is also a talented person, as if from another planet. I don't know when the second Hanyu will be born. Chen shocked us with his technique and stability. So, I cannot say that Ilia is more talented than these guys. They had Olympic and World Championship medals, and we are just beginning our path.

Besides, you need to remember that figure skating includes not only jumps, but skating itself, rotations, choreography, and so on. And his opponents are also very good at it.

—You said you didn't know when the second Hanyu would be born... Can Malinin become one?

—Malinin cannot become the second Hanyu because Hanyu was, is, and will be the only one. When Yuzuru is among the competition participants, tickets are sold out at the speed of sound.

— Will Malinin sell out arenas like Hanyu?

— If Malinin is healthy, he will have an eventful future. I do not doubt that Ilia will sell out arenas like Hanyu.

— You met Plushenko when he was as young as Malinin. What do young Plushenko and Malinin have in common?

— They are very similar: ambitious, light, and fresh. They both have a fire of future victories in their eyes. 16-17 years is a good time.

— When you saw Malinin for the first time, did you think: "Well, it's Evgeni Plushenko, he's just like him?"

— I wouldn't say I had such thoughts. It was one time then, it's a different time now. We'll see what happens next.

– Alexandra Trusova claimed she would also like to perform a quintuple. Do you believe she can land it? Who will perform it more quickly — Alexandra or Ilia?

— Alexandra is also a gifted girl with fantastic ambitions who has etched her name in figure skating history. She completed quads at the Olympics, so everything is possible. But now the season is different, a lot of time has passed, and another training begins. So, I cannot say if she will perform a quintuple.

— Plushenko said that there were athletes in Russia who could complete a quadruple axel. Do you agree with him?

— Yes, I do. Russia has very strong young skaters and a healthy competitive rhythm. I want to commend the Russian Figure Skating Federation for that. I believe it is one of the most efficient federations. The organization provides proper motivation and does a good job on tournaments. I believe that this work will bring us more talented athletes.

— I can't help asking a provocative question: would Malinin be the same Malinin if he had been brought up in Russia and been a product of Russian figure skating?

— I cannot answer this question. We have what we have. I cannot speculate or create some new thoughts. He was born in the USA, his parents are former figure skaters and are good at it. Ilia lives and trains in Washington DC.

— Who in Russia can now complete a quadruple axel?

— It is a difficult question. I don't know, maybe someone is trying to complete it during their training. But I think that these jumps will be performed by the guys who are now from 12 to 15.

— You have said that Malinin can perform such difficult jumps while he is still 17. Meanwhile, ISU is setting age limits. What do you think? Will this decision slow down this "evolution of the sport," as you have called it?

— These limits apply more to girls. In my opinion, the age limit should be 16, not 17. Quadruple axel is currently only a men's element. It will take several generations of skaters before a girl can perform it. In men's skating, age doesn't really matter, but one must prepare for difficult elements early. Although Hanyu and Dmitriev were close, quadruple axel is difficult to perform after you get 20.

— So, you believe that increasing the age limit won't influence men's figure skating?

— I do. This was mostly applied to women's skating.

— Do you and Ilia communicate in Russian?

— It depends. Ilia speaks Russian and English fluently. I will be glad if Russian fans also root for him.

— Do you feel that Ilia is an American with Russian roots or is there something Russian in him?

— Perhaps, his parents will answer this question better. I wouldn't dig so deep, as we have only begun our journey together. If you asked me what kind of person Plushenko was after I had worked with him for 25 years, I would tell you.

— How do Americans treat Malinin with his Russian surname? Or nobody cares?

— Malinin is a US citizen. He is treated like Chen who has a Chinese origin. The USA is a multicultural country. For instance, Nicole Bobek has Czech roots and Brian Boitano has Italian ones. This is what makes this country unique: here any name or ethnicity no longer matters if the athlete represents the USA.

— In other words, if Malinin's successful performance at the Olympics, his surname won't stop him from becoming a national hero.

— It won’t. I would even say that some Russian fans will also support him. Although Ilia was born in the USA and is a US citizen, he speaks with his parents in Russian. He has something Russian in him, too. He is a good, smart, and interesting boy.