Ilia Malinin is poised to continue his strong performance in the men's competition, which resumes on Friday, after taking the lead in the short program.

The men's short program at the Olympic figure skating event on Tuesday night was a spectacle that had everything, from breathtaking moments to emotional performances and unexpected twists.

The standout performer was once again Ilia Malinin from the USA, who delivered a dazzling routine that showcased his technical skill, including a quad flip and a quad lutz, two of the most challenging elements in the sport.

Although Malinin did not successfully land the quad axel, which has earned him the nickname 'Quad God,' his overall performance was enough to secure the top spot in the short program with a score of 108.16.

In contrast to his performance in the team event, where style sometimes overshadowed substance and he made errors, Malinin's routine on Tuesday was marked by its cleanliness and precision, and he even added a backflip to his program.

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama, considered Malinin's main competitor for the top spot, trails by more than five points after a slip on his triple axel.

Kagiyama is currently in second place with a score of 103.07, followed by France's Adam Siao Him Fa, who impressed with a score of 102.55, while Italy's Daniel Grassl, the host nation's best hope for a medal, is in fourth place with 93.46.

As Malinin strives for individual Winter Olympic gold, all eyes are on him, given his undefeated streak in competition, which has lasted almost two and a half years.

Following his impressive performance in the team event free skate, where he scored over 200 points and helped the USA secure team gold on Sunday, it's difficult to bet against Malinin in this event.

Malinin's competitive spirit was evident as he entered the rink, shadowboxing for the cameras, and he brought this same energy to his performance, making a strong statement to his rivals.

The men's event will conclude on Friday evening with the free skate, where Malinin will be the last of the 24 competitors to take the ice.

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Ilia Malinin dazzles the crowd with his performance in the men's short program.

A day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics is available for those looking to stay up-to-date with the events.

The full schedule, including the timing of medal events, can be found for planning purposes.

The current Winter Olympics 2026 medal table is available for tracking the progress of nations.

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American figure skater Maxim Naumov competes in memory of his late parents.

It's challenging to comprehend the difficulties American skater Maxim Naumov has faced over the past year, particularly the loss of his parents in a tragic plane crash.

Just over a year ago, Naumov's parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, both former world champion pairs skaters, were among the 67 people killed in a plane crash in Washington DC, which also claimed the lives of 28 athletes, coaches, and parents connected to US figure skating.

Naumov has shared that his dream of making Team USA was one of the last things he discussed with his parents before their passing.

In an interview with the BBC after his performance, Naumov expressed his desire to make his parents proud, stating, "They are my superheroes, my role models, and my biggest support system."

Naumov reflected on his father's words, "Everything is practice until it is the Olympics," and how he felt the weight of those words as he competed, wishing to make his parents proud.

Naumov took to the ice on Tuesday, skating to Nocturne No. 20 by Frederic Chopin, and despite a slight slip on his triple axel, he composed himself and delivered a technically sound routine.

As Naumov finished his performance, he was overcome with emotion, looking up to the sky with tears in his eyes as the arena erupted in applause, and he was seen smiling and saying "thank you," possibly to both the audience and his late parents.

Naumov's performance earned him a season-best score of 85.65 points, securing his place in the top 24 and a spot in the free skate on Friday.

As the scores were announced, Naumov held up a picture of himself as a child with his late parents, a poignant moment that highlighted the emotional significance of his participation in the Olympics.

Naumov keeps this picture with him at all times, saying, "It is in my bag, so it is literally right here on my heart," and expressed his desire for his parents to be with him to share in his achievements.

He added, "They deserve to be here, to be right next to me, to look up at the scores together and say: 'Look at what we just did!'"

The BBC will provide live streams, updates on BBC Radio 5 Live, and live text commentary and video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app for those looking to follow the events.

Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate was seen wearing a Minion-themed armband as part of his distinctive look.

One of the most intriguing stories leading up to the Games was that of Sabate, who has been performing to Minions songs while wearing a yellow T-shirt and blue overalls, reminiscent of the characters' outfits.

However, due to a copyright issue, it seemed that Sabate might have to alter his routine for the Olympics, which had been a major part of his performances throughout the 2025-26 season.

After days of negotiations and public support, the issues were resolved, and Sabate was able to perform to his preferred music.

Unfortunately, Sabate's performance was marred by technical errors, starting with a trip on his first element, and despite his unique style, he was unable to recover.

Sabate's score of 69.80 was not enough to advance him to the next round, and he finished in 25th place.

Despite the disappointment, Sabate showed his appreciation for the support he received, bowing to all four sides of the audience as he exited the stage, leaving a lasting impression on the crowd.

Ultimately there were too many technical errors, and a score of 69.80 was not enough to take him through as he finished in 25th place.

But Sabate, who has been keen to thank all those who took up his cause to allow his music at the Games, bowed with gusto to all four sides as one of Milan-Cortina's most memorable characters exited the stage.

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Chaos erupted on the Olympic skating rink, courtesy of the mischievous Minions.