Background
Malinina was born in Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR. Her mother was a gymnast and her father a figure skater.
Malinina was born in Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR. Her mother was a gymnast and her father a figure skater.
Malinina graduated from the Siberian Academy of Physical Culture in Omsk, Russia.
Malinina competed at ten consecutive World Championships beginning in 1993. She finished 8th at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Malinina began the 1998–1999 Grand Prix season with a 5th-place finish at the 1998 Skate America.
Shortly afterward, in November 1998, Malinina and Skorniakov settled in Dale City, Virginia, drawn by better training conditions.
In February 1999, she competed at the inaugural Four Continents Championships and became its first ladies" gold medalist. She finished her season by placing a career-best 4th at the World Championships.
In the 1999–2000 season, Malinina had groin and foot injuries. She finished 18th at the 2000 World Championships.
Igor Ksenofontov, the coach of Malinina and Skorniakov, died suddenly in 1999.
Valeri Malinin coached her part-time in the 2000–2001 season. She was 5th at the Grand Prix Final, 4th at Four Continents and 13th at Worlds. Malinina and Skorniakov coached each other in the 2001–2002 season.
Malinina withdrew from the 2002 Winter Olympics after the short program due to the flu.
She finished 15th at Worlds and then retired from competition as they planned to start a family.