Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old American figure skating sensation, is on the cusp of making history as he prepares for his first Winter Olympics in Milan. Nicknamed the 22Quad God22 for his jaw-dropping mastery of quadruple jumps, Malinin stands as the sport27s most electrifying figure, blending technical prowess, artistry, and a relentless drive for perfection. As the world turns its eyes to the upcoming Games, Malinin27s journey from prodigious talent to prohibitive favorite is as compelling as any in modern sports.
Just a few years ago, Malinin was a promising teenager with Olympic dreams and a family legacy rooted in the rink. His mother, Tatiana Malinina, and father, Roman Skorniakov, both competed for Uzbekistan in the Winter Olympics before moving to Virginia, where they built a new life and a coaching career. Despite their own accomplishments, they initially hoped their son would choose a different path. 22Actually, we opposed it,22 Malinina recalled in a November 2024 interview. 22We waited until he was already, like, 6 1/2 when he constantly asked us. Can he go on the ice? Can he go on the ice? And then finally we decide, OK, let27s do that just for fun. Just, like, learn how to skate.22
From those early days, Malinin27s unique blend of athleticism and artistry set him apart. He taught himself to skate, improvising routines to the soundtrack of 22Deliverance22 and dazzling his peers with backflips and half-court shots in other sports. But it was on the ice that he truly soared. By age 13, he landed his first quadruple jump, an achievement that signaled he was ready to take skating seriously. 22That was really impressive for the skating level,22 Malinin said. 22So I said, 27OK, let27s maybe take this a little more seriously. And maybe I can learn a few more quads.2222
The results have been nothing short of spectacular. Malinin is the only skater ever to land a quadruple axel in competition, a feat first accomplished in 2022. The jump, requiring 4 1/2 rotations, is the holy grail of figure skating27s technical arsenal. 22You learn more from losing than you do from winning,22 Malinin said, reflecting on the countless falls and bruises that come with pushing the boundaries of possibility. 22So a lot of the times, after I finish competition, I always look at the negatives, which a lot of people can say that27s like a bad mindset to have. But at the same time, that27s how you can improve more.22
His relentless pursuit of perfection is evident in his training regimen. In mid-December 2025, Malinin was in Irvine, California, far from his Virginia home, drilling quadruple axels under the watchful eyes of his coaches2d2dincluding his father and renowned coach Rafael Arutyunyan. 22I told him why,22 Arutyunyan explained. 22There is what, and there is why. He understands the what. And I know why. 26hellip; My job is easy, sure. But I had to learn for 50 years to know what to say.22
Malinin27s competitive record speaks volumes. He won the men27s world junior championship in 2022, then claimed every U.S. championship and Grand Prix Final since. At the 2024 and 2025 World Figure Skating Championships, he not only dominated the field but also set the three highest free skating scores ever recorded. In 2024, he became the first to land a quad in all six figure skating jumps2d2dthe salchow, axel, lutz, flip, loop, and toe loop2d2din a single program. By 2025, he had set another record by landing seven quads in one program at the Grand Prix Final in Japan.
But Malinin isn27t just a technical wizard. His charisma and showmanship have made him a fan favorite. Whether it27s a cheeky backflip during an exhibition or his fashion-forward style off the ice, he27s as comfortable in sequins and spandex as he is in a Dodgers jersey and bandana. 22We27ve got taste, too,22 Malinin joked, flashing the confidence that has become his trademark.
Choreography coach Shae-Lynn Bourne, a six-time world championship medalist, recognized Malinin27s drive from their first meeting. 22That already told me he27s ready to go,22 Bourne said. 22When we finish working for three hours, I27ll say, 27Maybe we can do a little bit more today.27 And he27ll stay another three hours and not even take off his skates. He doesn27t question it.22
Malinin27s rise hasn27t been without challenges. Early in his career, nerves sometimes got the best of him. 22A decade ago, when expectations weighed heavier than his growing frame, competition scared him,22 he admitted. 22But that27s the process of any athlete. They don27t start from getting on the ice their first day and being like, 27OK, I27m as good as LeBron James, you know, on the ice.27 So it27s like, you27ve got to start somewhere.22 Over time, he developed the mental toughness to match his physical gifts. 22If you asked me (my most impressive ability) even a year ago, I would have said it27s physical. But this year, mentally, I feel like a different person.22
His parents remain his biggest supporters2d2dthough his mother admits she now prefers to train him at home rather than travel to competitions, fearing her nerves might affect him. His father provides calm and perspective, while his mother instilled in him her fierce determination. 22She27s tough, which I like a lot,22 Arutyunyan said of Malinina. 22So that27s how it should be. Love, it27s not about to be always nice. Why? He27s going to face true life. He should know what is white and what is black. And you want to be on top of the world, and you want to get easy life? How is that going to go?22
Malinin27s programs are as thoughtfully constructed as his jumps. He and Bourne curate playlists to match the emotional arc of each routine. In 2025, his short program at the world championships featured NF27s 22Running,22 while his record-breaking free skate at the Grand Prix Final included a personal voiceover in a program called 22A Voice.22 22You have to love the music you skate to so you can put out the energy in your performance,22 Malinin explained. 22If you skate to music that you don27t really like, people will see that.22
With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan fast approaching, Malinin is widely seen as the favorite to claim gold. If he succeeds, he will become the first American man to win back-to-back Olympic golds in figure skating since Scott Hamilton and Brian Boitano in the 1980s. Yet, for all the hype and expectation, Malinin remains grounded and hungry. 22I wanna wear it,22 he said of the pressure. 22I27m one of those people that, if someone says I can27t do it, I need to prove them wrong.22
As the 22Quad God22 prepares to take the Olympic stage, the world waits to see if Ilia Malinin can deliver on his promise and etch his name among the sport27s immortals. One thing27s for sure: he27ll do it his way, with style, grit, and a flair that27s uniquely his own.
