‘I JUST WANTED TO HAVE FUN OUT THERE…’ — ILIA MALININ’S 11-YEAR-OLD SISTER ELLI BEATRICE MALININA STEALS THE SHOW WITH ADORABLE ‘EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A CAT’ FREE SKATE

At the 2025 Eastern Sectionals, while all eyes were on the senior competitors, an 11-year-old girl quietly stole the hearts of the entire arena. Elli Beatrice Malinina, the younger sister of world champion Ilia Malinin, delivered one of the most delightful and memorable performances of the entire competition with her Juvenile Girls Free Skate program set to the classic Disney song “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” from The Aristocats.

Skating with remarkable confidence, natural grace, and an infectious joy that belied her young age, Elli brought the playful jazz number to life on the ice. From the very first notes, her routine was full of personality — complete with charming hand gestures, bouncy footwork, and expressive facial movements that perfectly captured the fun, carefree spirit of the song.

Despite her tender age, Elli showed impressive technical ability for the Juvenile level. She landed a clean Lutz jump, executed beautifully centered spins, and maintained strong edges and posture throughout the program. Even after a small spill midway through the routine, she popped back up with a big smile and continued performing as if nothing had happened — a moment that drew loud applause and warm laughter from the crowd.

When asked afterward how she felt about her performance, Elli gave a refreshingly honest and sweet answer that perfectly summed up the moment: “I just wanted to have fun out there.”

Her final score of 43.80 placed her 5th in the Juvenile Girls Free Skate, but the placement barely mattered. What truly captured everyone’s attention was her pure love for skating and the undeniable star quality she displayed on the ice. Videos of her performance quickly went viral on social media, with thousands of comments praising her charisma and natural talent.

Many fans immediately drew comparisons to her older brother Ilia Malinin, the reigning World Champion known for his quad jumps and fearless style. “Skating clearly runs in the family!” one commenter wrote. Others noted how refreshing it was to see a young skater performing with such genuine joy rather than pressure. “She’s only 11 but she already skates with so much personality. You can tell she’s having the time of her life,” another fan shared.

Elli’s performance served as a beautiful reminder of why figure skating continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Beyond the triple and quadruple jumps seen at the elite level, the sport also thrives on moments like this — when a young athlete performs with pure heart, musicality, and unfiltered happiness.

For the Malinin family, this weekend at the Eastern Sectionals was extra special. While Ilia continues to dominate on the senior international stage, his little sister is quietly carving out her own path in the sport. Their parents, who have been deeply involved in figure skating for decades, must be incredibly proud watching both of their children express themselves so beautifully on the ice.

As the competition continues, Elli Beatrice Malinina may have finished 5th on paper, but in the hearts of everyone who watched her skate, she undoubtedly took home the gold for most memorable and heartwarming performance of the event.

Her simple yet powerful message — “I just wanted to have fun out there” — is something every skater, young or old, can learn from. In a sport that demands incredible discipline and sacrifice, Elli reminded everyone that joy should always remain at the center of it all.

The skating world will certainly be keeping an eye on this talented 11-year-old in the years to come. If her performance at the 2025 Eastern Sectionals is any indication, Elli Beatrice Malinina has a very bright future ahead — and she’s already winning hearts wherever she glides.

With her brother Ilia lighting up the senior ranks and Elli bringing pure magic to the younger levels, the Malinin name is quickly becoming synonymous with joy, talent, and the true spirit of figure skating.