Ilia Malinin’s long-awaited Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan was always going to be a spectacle, but few could have predicted just how much history—and drama—would unfold on the ice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7. The 21-year-old American, already a two-time and reigning world champion, arrived with the weight of sky-high expectations, a legendary reputation, and a nickname that says it all: the “Quad God.”
Malinin’s reputation has been built on his gravity-defying feats, most notably becoming the first and only skater to land a quadruple axel—a 4 1/2-revolution jump that remains unmatched in competition. “You think of legends in other sports—Simone Biles, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods—Ilia Malinin is that for figure skating,” commentator Johnny Weir told NBC Olympics. “He’s done elements that we never thought we’d see in our lifetime. Every time we watch him skate it’s like watching the moon landing.”
But as the Olympic team event short program unfolded, Malinin found himself facing a formidable rival: Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama. The reigning Olympic silver medalist delivered a near-flawless performance, landing a quad toe-triple toe combination, a quad salchow, and a peerless triple axel. Kagiyama’s score of 108.67 points not only topped Malinin’s 98.00 but also sent a clear message that the road to gold would be anything but smooth for the American favorite.
“It was just awesome,” Malinin said after his skate. “Just the environment, the energy, just everything was like, ‘Wow.’ Out of nowhere. I was not expecting this huge crowd of reaction, too. It was a lot of fun. It felt like a show to me honestly.” Despite his excitement, Malinin admitted to feeling nerves, leading to a shaky landing on his triple axel and an under-rotation on his quadruple lutz-triple toe combination. “Not necessarily undercooked, I just wanted to pace myself the right way. Today was 50 percent of what I’m doing,” he reflected. “I’m proud with everything that I wanted to achieve. And really just to get a good feel for that competition atmosphere almost and really just see how I need to adjust things going into the free skate... or, sorry, the individual event.”
Malinin’s program, set to “The Lost Crown,” did not include his signature quadruple axel, although he had initially planned to attempt it. “I decided a long time ago [not to do the quad Axel], but I forgot to change it off the planned elements,” he explained. The decision, it seems, was part of a broader strategy to conserve energy and focus for the individual event, where he remains the heavy favorite.
The American’s performance, while not his absolute best, still helped Team USA finish the day with 34 points across the men’s, pairs, and women’s short programs and rhythm dance—just one point ahead of Japan’s 33. Italy followed in third with 28, while Canada squeaked through to the next round with 27 points. France, despite a valiant effort by Kevin Aymoz, fell just short of the cut.
Yet, Malinin managed to etch his name in Olympic history in another way—by becoming the first figure skater ever to land a backflip in Olympic competition. The move, previously banned at the Games, was legalized for the Milan Olympics, and Malinin wasted no time in showcasing it during his team event skate. The backflip, an audacious nod to both athleticism and showmanship, thrilled the crowd and added another layer to his growing legend. France’s Surya Bonaly famously performed a backflip at the 1998 Olympics, but it was during an exhibition, not competition.
Despite the historic backflip, it was Kagiyama who stole the night with his technical and artistic prowess. When Kagiyama’s score was announced, he leapt out of his seat, fists raised in triumph—a stark contrast to Malinin, who appeared momentarily stunned by the margin of defeat. The rivalry between the two nations is nothing new; Japan has long challenged the U.S. for figure skating supremacy, and this year’s team event is shaping up to be another nail-biter.
Malinin’s journey to Milan has been marked by both triumph and adversity. After being controversially left off the U.S. team for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, he rebounded by winning the junior world title that same year and quickly ascended to the top of the senior ranks. With Hall of Fame coach Rafael Arutyunyan—who also guided Nathan Chen to Olympic gold—now in his corner, Malinin has captured back-to-back world championships and nearly broke Chen’s world record score of 335.30 points.
His family’s Olympic pedigree is equally impressive. Malinin’s mother, Tatiana Malinina, competed for Uzbekistan at the 1998 Olympics and won the Grand Prix Final the following year. His father, Roman Skorniakov, also skated for Uzbekistan in 1998 and 2002, while his grandfather, Valery Malinin, competed for the Soviet Union and continues to coach in Russia. “Ilia challenges himself constantly,” Arutyunyan said. “Our biggest challenge is keeping the team of people who work with him on the same page. We’re all there for him when he needs his team most.”
Malinin is joined on the U.S. men’s team by Andrew Torgashev and Maxim Naumov, each with their own compelling stories. Naumov, whose parents were both figure skating icons, fulfilled a lifelong dream by making the Olympic team, dedicating his achievement to his late parents. The broader U.S. squad is considered one of the strongest in history, boasting three reigning world champions. Madison Chock, competing alongside her husband and partner Evan Bates, called it “the strongest team we’ve ever had going into an Olympic Games.”
As the team event continues with the free dance—where world champions Chock and Bates are expected to shine—the Americans cling to a razor-thin lead. Malinin, meanwhile, remains focused on his ultimate goal: changing figure skating forever. He’s even teased the possibility of attempting a quintuple jump in the future, a feat once considered physically impossible.
“It’s really just [about trying] not to put a lot of pressure on myself and really be comfortable with everything,” Malinin said. “And, of course, enjoy every single moment because this only happens so many times in your life—or perhaps even once in your lifetime. So that’s what I want to do.”
The action in Milan is far from over, with the men’s individual event and possible history-making performances still to come. For now, fans and rivals alike are left wondering: what will the Quad God do next?