Ilia Malinin is an American figure skater who has redefined the technical boundaries of modern men’s figure skating. Widely known by the nickname “Quad God,” he became the first and only skater in history to successfully land a quadruple Axel in official international competition. His dominance at the 2026 Winter Olympics transformed him into a global sporting icon and positioned him as one of the most influential athletes of the 21st century.

Early Life and Skating Heritage

Ilia Malinin was born on December 2, 2004, in Fairfax, Virginia, into an elite skating family. His mother, Tatiana Malinina, represented Uzbekistan at the Olympic Games and won the 1999 Grand Prix Final and the 1999 Four Continents Championships. His father, Roman Skorniakov, competed internationally for Russia and later Uzbekistan. His maternal grandfather, Valery Malinin, was a Soviet skater and coach in Novosibirsk.

Growing up in a household defined by Olympic-level discipline and technical excellence shaped Malinin’s athletic identity from an early age. He began skating at six years old in Reston, Virginia. Although he briefly considered pursuing soccer, the structured guidance of his parents and grandfather anchored him to figure skating. His younger sister Liza also trains in the sport.

Malinin competes under his mother’s surname, as his family believed it would be easier for international audiences to pronounce.

Education and Personal Profile

Ilia Malinin graduated from George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Virginia, in 2023 and enrolled at George Mason University. He is fluent in English and Russian. On social media, he uses the handle “ilia_quadg0d_malinin,” a reflection of his technical identity centered around quadruple jumps.

Despite his competitive dominance, he has stated publicly that he does not wish to be perceived as “invincible,” emphasizing the emotional complexity and human dimension behind elite performance.

Junior Career

Ilia Malinin achieved significant success in national development categories before transitioning to senior competition. His early accomplishments include:

2016 U.S. National Juvenile Champion
2017 U.S. National Intermediate Champion
2019 U.S. National Novice Bronze Medalist
2018 Asian Open Trophy Champion
2018 Zagreb Golden Bear Silver Medalist

During the 2021–22 season, he won two Junior Grand Prix gold medals and captured the 2022 World Junior Championship title. He set junior world records in the short program, free skate, and total score.

Senior Career and Technical Revolution

The defining breakthrough of Ilia Malinin’s senior career occurred in 2022 at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, where he successfully landed the quadruple Axel in international competition. The quad axel—requiring 4.5 rotations—had long been considered the most elusive jump in figure skating history. Its successful execution marked a technical revolution within the sport.

Beyond medal counts, Malinin became the first skater to successfully execute six different quadruple jumps within a single program, elevating the technical standard of modern men’s skating to unprecedented levels.

Milano–Cortina 2026 and the Historic Backflip

At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina, Ilia Malinin delivered one of the most memorable performances in Olympic figure skating history. Representing the United States in the team event, he rebounded from a challenging short program with a commanding free skate.

On February 8, 2026, he performed a legal backflip during his free program—the first permitted Olympic backflip after the International Skating Union lifted its decades-long ban in 2024. The move electrified the arena and symbolized both technical authority and artistic fearlessness. His performance played a decisive role in securing team gold for the United States over Japan.

The backflip, historically associated with protest and rebellion, was recontextualized by Malinin as a confident display of mastery. The moment entered Olympic history instantly.

Style and Influences

Ilia Malinin cites Nathan Chen, Yuzuru Hanyu, Mikhail Kolyada, and Evgeni Plushenko as major inspirations. His skating combines explosive vertical lift, rapid rotational velocity, and refined transitions. He introduced a signature choreographic element informally known as the “Raspberry Twist,” referencing the Russian origin of his surname, derived from the word “malina.”

Honors and Global Recognition

Malinin’s impact has been recognized beyond competitive titles:

Guinness World Record – First quad axel in competition
Time 100 Next (2022)
ISU Skating Awards – Special Achievement Award (2023)
ISU Skating Awards – Most Valuable Skater (2024)
ISU Skating Awards – Skater of the Year (2025)
Fairfax County Honorary Proclamation
Skating Magazine 2024 Readers’ Choice Award

Ilia Malinin is widely regarded as a transformative athlete whose innovations have permanently altered the technical architecture of figure skating.

Source: Biyografiler.com