OLYMPICS: Figure Skating- ‘This is his moment’: Rippon backs Malinin to thrive at Winter Games

Former U.S. Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon says American Ilia Malinin is redefining men’s skating by pairing "impossible" technical skills with a growing artistic edge, predicting he will shine at the Milano Cortina Games.

Speaking to Reuters at a Ralph Lauren event on the eve of the opening ceremony, Rippon compared the buzz around Malinin to the awe the skating world felt when Nathan Chen won Olympic gold four years ago.

"Ilia is doing the impossible," Rippon said, pointing to Malinin’s repeated success landing the quadruple Axel, a jump once considered more theoretical than achievable. "He makes it look so easy."

Rippon noted that Malinin’s appeal goes beyond his jumps, calling him both a great athlete and artist — a combination essential in a sport that blends performance with interpretation.

"The thing that's amazing about skating is that it's where sport meets art," Rippon said. "And Ilia has found a really good balance of them both."

While Malinin’s technical prowess has made him a global name, Rippon said his current programs took time for fans to fully embrace.

"At first I didn't totally get the programs he has this year," Rippon said. "But now I’m on board, sold."

Rippon also highlighted how Malinin is challenging the sport’s scoring system with the sheer number and variety of quadruple jumps he includes in his routines.

"He pushes the computers to their absolute limit. How many different kinds of quads can you add into one scoring system?" he said.

With major competitions attracting growing attention, Rippon is confident Malinin is built for the global stage and the spotlight it brings.

"I really think that he thrives under pressure, and he thrives with the attention," Rippon said. "This is his moment."

-Reporting by Rory Carroll in Milan; Editing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters