American figure skaters Ilia Malinin and Alysa Liu have secured the top honours at the prestigious ISU Grand Prix Final, held in Beijing. The event, which concluded on Saturday, 6th December 2025, saw both athletes deliver commanding performances to claim the men's and women's titles respectively.
Malinin's Quad-Fuelled Masterclass
Ilia Malinin, the 20-year-old known as the "Quad God," successfully defended his Grand Prix Final crown with a powerful display. His free skate, set to music from the television series Succession, was a technical tour de force. He landed a staggering five quadruple jumps, including his signature quadruple Axel, to post a massive score of 221.61 points for the segment.
This brought his overall total to 335.70 points, securing a comfortable victory over his rivals. Japan's Shun Sato claimed the silver medal, while the reigning world champion, Adam Siao Him Fa of France, had to settle for bronze after a challenging free skate.
Liu's Emotional Return to the Podium
In the women's competition, Alysa Liu marked a spectacular return to the pinnacle of the sport. The 20-year-old, who now represents the United States, skated a flawless and elegant free programme to music from Moulin Rouge! Her performance, which included six triple jumps, earned her a segment score of 149.91 points.
Combined with her lead from the short programme, Liu finished with a total of 225.52 points to take the gold medal. South Korea's Shin Ji-a captured the silver, and Japan's Mao Shimada won the bronze. Liu's victory was her first major international title since her comeback to competitive skating.
Implications for the Season Ahead
These victories in Beijing establish Malinin and Liu as the undisputed favourites heading into the remainder of the competitive season. The Grand Prix Final is a key indicator of form ahead of the World Championships. Malinin has solidified his reputation as the most technically proficient male skater in the world, while Liu's artistic and consistent skating has propelled her back to the top.
The results set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown at the upcoming US National Championships and the World Championships in Boston. Both skaters have demonstrated they possess the technical skill and competitive nerve required to dominate on the global stage.
