HannahPeck

The Aftermath of Worlds

The medals have been awarded, the gala concluded, and in the words of Ilia Malinin, the season is done. Yet what we’ve learned from Worlds is just beginning to be discussed. The 2026 World Figure Skating Championships served us breathtaking performances and heartbreaking misses and a myriad of post-competition conversations still happening!

The Headline Winners

I must start by congratulating the winners of the 2026 World Championships! These athletes have had long Olympics seasons and still delivered some of the most effervescent performances. 

In Ice Dance, Laurence Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron continue their win streak from the Olympics by bringing home Gold. With this duo, you must note their length of time skating together, which is surprisingly only one season! I think we can assume this partnership will continue if their success is any indicator. 

For Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin, they have finally secured the Pairs Gold medal this championship. Placing Bronze in 2024 and Silver in 2025, this was the next step for them!

Kaori Sakamoto left us stunned in her final free skate. With a final total of 238.28, she secures Gold and the accolade of being a 4x World Champion. There would not be a better way for her to end her career and more importantly elevated her already astonishing legacy!

In men’s, Ilia Malinin reminded us all of why he is the quad god. Ending with a total of 329.40 points, he brings home Gold once again, extending his reign to three World Championships. Most notably, Malinin broke his personal best in the short program by scoring a 111.29 and he didn’t even use his full arsenal to do it.

The Moments Everyone Is Talking About

As much as we love the results and medals, that wasn’t the only thing people were talking about. Worlds would truly not be complete without an Ice Dance controversy. It has been officially announced that the British Ice Skating Federation is formally challenging a call made against Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson. The pair dropped from a potential podium position when a lift was called illegal and given a deduction. We’ll have to wait and see the official ruling, but from my perspective it is quite unfair that the lift was not called any other competition this season. To read more about the call and next steps, you can check out this article from Forbes. 

On a much happier note, we also know everyone is still in awe of Yuma Kagiyama’s redemptive free skate. Yuma made an unfortunate mistake in his entry of a triple axel during his short program, putting him a few spots back from first. However, in the free skate, Yuma completed one of the best skates I’ve seen. Technically and artistically brilliant, his skate earned him a total of 212.87 points—a personal best—securing him a Silver World medal.

Breakout Stars & Rising Names

For the USA, Jacob Sanchez and Sarah Everhardt were bright spots. Jacob Sanchez made his senior debut at the World Championships following the withdrawal of Jason Brown. He finished 12th and looked far more comfortable than one would expect in their debut. Sarah placed 11th in the Women’s category—a very strong beginning to her career. These skaters will help form the future of Team USA in seasons to come, potentially even as future Olympians.

Disappointments & Missed Opportunities

Most heartbreaking was, of course, the free skate for Amber Glenn. Amber found herself in a strong position after the short program but fell out of podium contention by missing her loop jump in the free skate. The loop was also the jump she missed in her Olympic short program, costing her a podium spot there as well. The loop continues to be the difference-maker in her biggest moments. Questions are now circulating about when she may hang up her skates. Personally, I hope it’s not for another season or two.

What This Means for the Olympic Cycle

While it is hard to begin talking about the 2030 Olympics when the 2026 Winter Olympics just concluded, there are a few key things we can take from this Worlds competition.

One thing we will miss is the presence of Kaori Sakamoto. Japan will begin raising up their next generation of senior skaters to help fill that absence. Mone Chiba, who ended with a Bronze this Worlds, will be a key contender for them.

We also know that Ilia Malinin plans to have his true redemptive skate in 2030.

Throughout these World Championships, it’s also safe to say we saw the emergence of new skaters who will look to sharpen and strengthen their craft for the next Olympic cycle.

Final Takeaway

What I can confidently say is this was a perfect conclusion to what has been a very long season for many skaters. From the tearful goodbye to Kaori to the quad god reminding us that one bad day does not define you—this Worlds was spectacular.

While many of these skaters go on to do galas and shows, or begin their summer break, we know that behind the scenes the ISU has many decisions to finalize before the new season begins. And I can’t wait to hear them all.