Malinin Eyes World’s Toughest Quad in Olympic Skating Finale

Ilia Malinin is captivating audiences at the Milan Cortina Olympics as he prepares for a historic performance. Known as the “Quad God,” Malinin has announced plans to attempt the quad axel, a challenging 4 1/2-revolution jump that has yet to be landed by any competitor in a major event. However, during the team event and his individual short program, he chose to execute the safer triple axel instead.

Heading into the Free Skate

Malinin continues to lead the competition with a five-point advantage over Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and France’s Adam Siao Him Fa. This lead provides him the flexibility to experiment with the quad axel, a move he has included in his plans for the free skate. He expressed hope to feel adequately prepared to attempt the jump, prioritizing both safety and confidence in his performance.

The Difficulty of the Quad Axel

The quad axel is the only jump that starts facing forward in figure skating, making it extra challenging. Its complexity lies in the fact that it includes an additional half-revolution compared to the other six primary jumps. Even elite athletes struggle with the triple axel, making the quad axel seem nearly impossible. Olympic champion Scott Hamilton stated, “I never thought I’d see anybody do a quadruple axel. Not in my lifetime,” yet Malinin has made it a reality.

Record-Setting Achievements

In September 2022, Malinin made headlines by landing a near-perfect quad axel at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. At just 17 years old, he set a high bar for future skaters. His astounding speed of about 340 revolutions per minute is comparable to a ceiling fan on high. Kristi Yamaguchi, another Olympic champion, remarked on the unprecedented nature of his accomplishment.

Point System Advantage

• The base value of the triple axel is 8.0 points.
• The quad axel holds a base value of 12.5 points.
• Malinin’s scoring potential increases with each successful landing due to execution bonuses.

Last year, he won the world championships by executing all six quad jumps, achieving the second-largest margin of victory in the event’s history. Given the technical difficulty of his routine, Malinin may not need the quad axel to secure a strong performance.

Performance Philosophy

Malinin is the son of accomplished Olympic skaters Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov. He aims to continuously raise the stakes in figure skating. Not only did he incorporate a backflip into his performance, but he also created a signature jump called the “raspberry twist,” a nod to his heritage.

Despite experiencing pressure during the Olympic team events, he found greater comfort and confidence during his short program, nearing his seasonal best score of 108.16. With one last opportunity to perform on the grand stage of the Milan Cortina Olympics, all eyes will be on his potential quad axel attempt.