2026 Olympic Figure Skating Odds and Predictions – Betting Preview & Best Bets

Ilia Malinin enters these Olympics as the overwhelming favorite, and those -5000 Olympic figure skating odds reflect what we’ve witnessed all season. Malinin has been absolutely dominant on the international circuit. The 21-year-old American has been untouchable in pre-Olympic competition, landing quadruple jumps that his competitors can only dream about. When he’s on, nobody comes close.

Ilia Malinin’s quadruple axel in slow-mopic.twitter.com/jbuTrvUaH4

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) February 5, 2026

Malinin’s value at -5000 is tricky, though. You’re risking a lot of money for a minimal return, which only makes sense if you’re building a parlay, or you’re absolutely convinced he’s a lock to win the gold medal. The implied probability here sits above 98%, leaving almost no margin for error or upset potential.

He is very young at 21. That said, Malinin’s technical superiority provides a massive cushion. Even a slightly imperfect performance likely still wins gold given the gap between him and the field. The men’s figure skating Olympic odds don’t scream value, but Malinin is clearly the favorite here.

Yuma Kagiyama at +1600 presents a uncertain value proposition. The Japanese skater brings legitimate Olympic pedigree with his silver medal from Beijing, and his two previous trips to the Olympics certainly count for something on the sport’s biggest stage. The problem is that experience alone doesn’t bridge the technical gap that’s emerged in men’s figure skating.

One of the most insane performances! 😮‍💨

Yuma Kagiyama was on another level at Beijing 2022. 👏 pic.twitter.com/xKx5NAAo4W

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) January 30, 2026

Kagiyama’s path to gold essentially requires Malinin to stumble, and banking on the favorite’s mistakes feels like shaky betting logic. Kagiyama simply can’t match Malinin’s skills when both skaters are performing near their ceiling.

The +1600 odds might look tempting on paper, but they reflect the market’s assessment that Kagiyama needs Malinin to stumble badly to win. Unless you’re specifically hedging against a Malinin collapse or building a longshot parlay, there are better places to find value in this market.

Kaori Sakamoto at +175 shows how recent form can shift betting markets. The Japanese skater brings legitimate credentials, winning three World Championship titles and an Olympic bronze in 2022. But her second-place finish to Alysa Liu at the 2025 Worlds raises questions about whether she’s still operating at peak level.

just kaori sakamoto performing another gorgeous program💙 pic.twitter.com/Z7BRgqsu4j

— kaori sakamoto loops (@kaoriloops) February 6, 2026

The experience factor goes both ways here. Sakamoto has been through this pressure multiple times. That also means we’ve potentially seen her ceiling, and finishing runner-up in her most recent major competition suggests she might be trending in the wrong direction.

Liu demonstrated superior technical execution when it mattered most, and that head-to-head result carries significant weight. The value doesn’t isn’t there at this number.

Adeliia Petrosian (competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete due to Russia’s Olympic ban) at +200 could be a risk in her Olympic debut. The three-time Russian champion brings undeniable technical prowess, as she’s the first woman to land a quadruple loop in competition. The concern here is translating domestic dominance into Olympic success under the brightest spotlight in figure skating.

Her absence from the 2025 World Championships raises immediate red flags about competitive sharpness. Olympic figure skating demands peak timing, and skipping major international competition before the Games suggests either injury concerns or strategic decisions that could backfire.

We haven’t seen her on big stages recently. Without recent international results to gauge her form, Petrosian’s women’s Olympic figure skating odds seem very inflated.

Alysa Liu’s +300 odds have to be considered, especially since her impressive 2025 World Championship victory. The market seems somewhat cautious, as she couldn’t even capture the US Championships this year. This raises questions about consistency when it matters most.

i will never get over how she retired at 16, picked THIS SONG to come back with, AND THEN WON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. oh alysa liu the icon that you are. pic.twitter.com/TGpcaH0xdD

— breanna (@remlorde) February 5, 2026

The World Championship title looks great on paper, but the Olympics historically punish skaters who have any mistakes in their domestic competitions. Her failure to win Nationals suggests the judges might have concerns about technical execution or artistic presentation that could resurface on skating’s biggest stage. Liu will have to bring her very best in Milan.

Olympic figure skating rewards flawless consistency and artistic maturity, two qualities that remain question marks for Liu. However, I’m putting a lot into her performance at the World Championships, and I think Liu has what it takes to rise to the occasion!

Amber Glenn at +600 is a question mark, despite her impressive domestic credentials. She’s captured three US Championships, and brings Olympic experience to the table, but the international stage tells another story. Her fifth-place finish at the 2025 World Championships reveals the gap between dominating American competitions and cracking the podium against the world’s elite.

The women’s Olympic figure skating odds suggest bookmakers see her as a legitimate contender. Glenn’s technical consistency has served her well statistically. But figure skating’s subjective scoring components often work against skaters who haven’t built the same global reputation as their counterparts.

She knows the pressure, but previous results suggest she hasn’t quite figured out how to elevate her performance when it matters most on the world stage.

Glenn’s value exists only if you believe she’s underrated, rather than appropriately priced as a darkhorse to win the gold medal.