Ilia Malinin secured the gold medal for the United States in the team event at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, on Sunday, February 8th, despite acknowledging errors in his performance. The 21-year-old American figure skater, dubbed the “Quad God” for his pioneering jumps, delivered a performance that was crucial in edging out Japan by a single point.
Malinin’s success hinges on a jump previously considered nearly impossible: the quadruple axel. He was the first skater to successfully land the jump in international competition in 2022, a feat that continues to define his career. The quadruple axel requires four and a half rotations in the air, a half rotation more than any other jump and a forward takeoff that adds to its complexity.
While Malinin did not attempt the quadruple axel in the team event, nor in his individual short program on Tuesday, February 10th, his overall performance was enough to secure the top spot in the short program, positioning him for a potential second gold in the individual free skate scheduled for Friday, February 13th. Olympic figure skating gold medallist Robin Cousins told BBC Sport that Malinin’s talent is “otherworldly” and that his style, while not traditionally polished, is captivating.
The difficulty of the quadruple axel has long been a subject of scientific inquiry. A 2024 study published in the journal Sports Biomechanics, conducted by Toin University researcher Seiji Hirosawa, revealed that achieving sufficient height – approximately 20 inches off the ground – is critical for successfully completing the jump. This finding challenges previous biomechanical research that did not emphasize vertical height as a key factor. The study analyzed footage of skaters attempting the jump, utilizing the Ice Scope tracking system to measure vertical height, horizontal distance, and skating speed.
Hirosawa’s research suggests that skaters attempting the quadruple axel are strategically prioritizing increased jump height to maximize flight time and allow for the necessary four and a half rotations. The study concluded that this represents a shift in technique, moving away from previous approaches that did not prioritize vertical lift. The findings offer valuable insights into the biomechanics of complex jumps and could inform training strategies for skaters aiming to master the quadruple axel.
The scoring system in figure skating competitions, overseen by a jury of two technical specialists and a technical controller, awards higher scores for more hard jumps like the quadruple axel. Successfully executing these jumps is essential for achieving competitive success. The axel, named after Norwegian skater Axel Paulsen, is unique in that it involves a forward takeoff, requiring an additional half rotation compared to other jumps.
Malinin has maintained an unbroken winning streak for nearly two and a half years, and holds multiple championship titles including the 2024 and 2025 World Championships, three Grand Prix Final championships (2023, 2024, 2025), and four U.S. National championships (2023-2026). He is also the 2022 World Junior champion.
