2026 Olympic Figure Skating Men's Singles Preview & Prediction
Updated July 9, 2026
The men’s figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina is one of the events at these games with one of the biggest favorites on the board. American Ilia Malinin headlines the field for this event and will try to cash in on his status as favorite to win a gold medal in Italy. Before this event begins in the 2026 Winter Games, continue reading to get my Olympic figure skating men's singles prediction.
The figure skating world has been captivated this season by the continued dominance of Ilia Malinin, the young American who has rewritten what is technically possible in men’s skating. Malinin arrives at the Winter Games as the overwhelming favorite after winning his second straight World Championship title and remaining unbeaten at major international competitions for over two years. His performances often include multiple quadruple jumps and have set scoring benchmarks that most of the rest of the field struggles to even approach.
At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Malinin again took the men’s title with a commanding margin, topping the competition by a wide score gap and reinforcing his status as the skater to beat overall. His technical arsenal and consistent execution make him a near lock for the top step of the podium unless something unexpected occurs.
Another storyline to follow is the presence of Petr Gumennik competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete. Gumennik earned his Olympic berth by dominating a qualifying event, finishing well ahead of rivals from several countries and demonstrating that he can handle pressure on the big stage. That strength could translate into a podium challenge if his programs come together at the right moment.
Japan will again have a strong influence on the podium, with Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato both priced among the leading contenders behind Malinin. Japanese skaters have enjoyed strong international results throughout the season and have the technical and artistic abilities to keep pressure on the leaders.
Elsewhere, skaters like Adam Siao Him Fa of France and Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan offer intriguing opportunities for bettors looking beyond the top favorites. They have both delivered performances strong enough to contend for medals at major events and could benefit from clean programs if others falter.
Pick: Ilia Malinin ATS PRO
Confidence: 5/5
I'm not sure that Tonya Harding and her goons could stop Ilia Malinin from grabbing the gold medal in the men's singles figure skating competition. Malinin is skating at a level that no other skater can touch, with the only thing that can stop him being mistakes on his own part.
For wagers on podium positions beyond gold, consider looking at Kagiyama and Sato for silver and bronze, or looking deeper for slight underdogs like Gumennik and Siao Him Fa to maximize potential payouts if they deliver peak performances. But as far as the gold medal is concerned, Malinin is competing only with himself and his own execution at this point.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
Affiliate Disclosure
ATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.
