Malinina became the first Four Continents Champion in history, winning the Gold at the inaugural event in February 1999 in Halifax. She is also the first skater from Uzbekistan to medal in an ISU Championship and in the ISU Grand Prix. She started to skate after visiting a local ice rink. Originally from Russia, she chose to represent the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan after moving there as a teenager. Her father is a former figure skater and ice dancer who became coach, her mother was a gymnast. Malinina admires Michelle Kwan for her style and grace on the ice. Malinina moved to Dale City, Virginia together with fellow skater Roman Skorniakov in November 1998, because her practice conditions in Tashkent deteriorated. Malinina married Skorniakov in January 2000. After the sudden death of their coach in 2000 Malinina and Skorniakov train mostly on their own. Malinina had to withdraw from the 2002 Olympic Winter Games after the short program due to illness (flu).