Quad God’s Historic Backflip Stuns Olympics, Gold and History on the Line
History was rewritten on Olympic ice and the world is still catching its breath.
At the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina, Ilia Malinin delivered a moment that will be replayed for decades. The 21-year-old American, already known as the “Quad God,” stunned the crowd by landing a backflip during competition, a move once banned from Olympic figure skating. That daring element helped lift Team USA to gold in the team event and it sent a powerful message that the sport is evolving in real time.
For decades, somersault-style jumps were prohibited due to safety concerns. The last time a backflip was seen legally at the Olympics was in the 1970s. But in 2024, the International Skating Union reversed course, reopening the door for high-risk, high-drama elements. Malinin walked straight through it.
And he did not stop there.
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He now leads the men’s individual competition heading into the free skate. That is where the real tension builds. Because while Malinin has already mastered multiple quadruple jumps, there is one element that separates him from every other skater in history — the quadruple axel. It is a 4.5-rotation jump so difficult that no one else has landed it successfully in international competition. If he attempts it and lands it cleanly on Olympic ice, it would be the first in Games history.
But here is the twist. Through the team event and the short program, he has held back. He has chosen consistency over spectacle, strategy over risk. And that decision reflects something important. This is not just about viral moments. It is about Olympic gold.
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama remains within striking distance, trailing by only a handful of points. One mistake could shift the podium. That is the razor-thin margin at this level.
What makes this story bigger than medals is what it represents. Figure skating has long balanced artistry and athleticism. Malinin is pushing that balance further toward technical extremes, redefining what is physically possible on ice. Young skaters around the world are watching. Judges are adapting. The sport itself is being reshaped.
Now the spotlight turns to the free skate. Will he play it safe and secure gold, or will he risk everything for history?
Stay with us for full coverage of the men’s final and every defining moment from the Winter Olympics, as the next chapter in figure skating history unfolds before our eyes.
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