Ilia Malinin was destined to glide on ice. As the offspring of two Olympic ice performers—Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, both of whom represented Uzbekistan—he initially stepped onto the rink at the age of six. Since then, he has rapidly ascended to prominence within the realm of figure skating, self-proclaiming as the “Quad God” due to his proficiency in executing numerous quadruple leaps effortlessly within a single routine.
This week, Malinin guided the American figure skating contingent to victory, securing a gold medal in the team competition at the 2026 Winter Games. His showing during that contest stood out for a pair of significant points. Firstly, he concluded his brief routine with an astonishing backward somersault. Secondly, he didn’t even need to employ his characteristic quadruple axel jump to achieve a respectable score of 108.16.
The backward flip was not merely remarkable because it appeared incredibly impressive on the frozen surface. It garnered attention because he became the inaugural figure skater to lawfully complete a backflip during the Olympic Games. The International Skating Union had outlawed the backflip in the latter part of the 1970s, deeming it excessively hazardous. The prohibition was only rescinded in 2024, and soon after, Malinin executed one in a competitive setting.
However, he was not the pioneer. Terry Kubicka’s backward somersault at the 1976 Olympics prompted the prohibition. French ice performer Surya Bonaly successfully performed one in 1998 at the Nagano Games. She was aware the maneuver would reduce her score, yet Bonaly proceeded with it regardless. As she disclosed to The Root in 2014, her aim was to “establish a distinctive mark.”
Subsequent to Malinin’s display on Sunday, numerous commentators highlighted that he was receiving commendation for an action for which Bonaly, a Black female, had been penalized nearly three decades prior. In a discipline historically deficient in variety, this appeared to be an affront. Upon being reached by the Associated Press after Malinin’s exhibition, Bonaly conveyed her satisfaction at witnessing the maneuver in an Olympic contest.
“I paved the way for fellow skaters,” Bonaly remarked. “Presently, circumstances have transformed. Individuals embrace anyone who demonstrates skill, and that encapsulates the essence of existence.”
Regarding the Quad God’s distinctive maneuver, his omission of the quadruple axel during the team event has prompted widespread speculation as to whether he is reserving it for the men’s free skating contest on Friday, slated to be his concluding presentation of the Games.
This appears exceedingly probable. Malinin remains the sole ice performer to have ever successfully executed this extraordinarily challenging leap in a competitive setting. Furthermore, he possesses a flair for performance. It would be appropriate for him to execute his most impressive feat during his ultimate appearance on the rink. The maneuver, necessitating the skater to commence the leap while progressing forwards, entails four and a half aerial spins. The astonishing altitude and swift rotations requisite for accomplishing the quadruple axel captivate both spectators and evaluators. Reserving that particular action for the culminating event is simply sagacious planning.
And perhaps Malinin will incorporate a few backward somersaults as well.
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