Figure skating-Malinin powers US past Japan to team gold in Milan

MILAN, Feb 8 : "Quad God" Ilia Malinin vaulted the United States above Japan and to the top of the podium at the Milano Cortina Games on Sunday to cap a thrilling team competition that saw host Italy seize bronze.

With the U.S. and Japan tied going into the men's free skate, the 21-year-old Malinin met the moment even though he wasn't at his best to lead the U.S. to a second successive Olympic team title.  

"I'm proud of myself," Malinin told reporters.

"I'm proud of my team for all the work they've put into this event, without each other it wouldn't have happened."

Malinin had been expected to perform seven quads in his free skate but ended up attempting only five, and even those were not flawless as he stumbled out of his quad Lutz. He turned two planned quads - including the quad Axel - into triples. 

But he salvaged his programme with a huge quad toeloop followed up by a quad Salchow, both in combinations. 

He also landed a backflip on one leg to the delight of a packed crowd, which included a large number of vocal Americans at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.

His score of 200.03 was almost 40 points less than his season's best but still good enough to defeat Japan's Shun Sato, who skated cleanly after Malinin but was unable to match his rival's technical ability. 

"Honestly, the moment has still not settled in yet. I still haven't really figured out that I'm wearing a gold medal from the Olympics," Malinin said.

"It's honestly just such an unreal feeling. But overall, I'm just so excited. This brings me so much joy and energy, and of course, the confidence and the motivation leading up to my individual event."

The U.S. finished with 69 points, one more than Japan, while Italy took bronze with 60 points. Malinin remains the