Quad Axel: The Gravity-Defying Jump Ilia Malinin Aims to Land at Olympics

The 18-year-old American phenom is the only skater to land the quad axel in competition, and could make history by completing it at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Ilia Malinin, the 18-year-old American figure skater nicknamed the "Quad God," is the only person to have landed the incredibly difficult quadruple axel jump in competition. If he attempts and lands the quad axel at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, he would be the first to do so at the Olympic Games. The quad axel is a jump that starts facing forward, giving it an extra half revolution, and has long been considered nearly impossible even for elite skaters to complete.

Why it matters

Malinin's potential completion of the quad axel would be a historic moment in figure skating, as the jump has never been landed at the Olympics before. It would showcase Malinin's unparalleled technical abilities and cement his status as one of the most dominant and innovative figure skaters of his generation.

The details

The quad axel requires Malinin to spin at around 340 revolutions per minute, or about as fast as a ceiling fan on high. He first landed the jump in competition in September 2022 at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, stunning the skating world. Malinin has since landed the quad axel again, including at last year's World Championships where he won his second straight title. The jump has a base value of 12.5 points, significantly more than the 8.0 points for a triple axel, giving Malinin a major scoring advantage over his competitors.

  • Malinin landed the quad axel for the first time in competition in September 2022 at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic.
  • Malinin landed the quad axel again at the 2023 World Championships in Boston.

The players

Ilia Malinin

An 18-year-old American figure skater who is the only person to have landed the quadruple axel jump in competition. He is considered a phenom in the sport and has been nicknamed the "Quad God" for his technical prowess.

Scott Hamilton

A 1984 Olympic figure skating champion who admitted he never thought he would see anyone complete a quadruple axel in his lifetime.

Kristi Yamaguchi

A 1994 Olympic figure skating champion who has expressed amazement at Malinin's ability to land the quad axel.

Brian Boitano

The 1988 Olympic figure skating champion who has advised Malinin to be a "smart competitor" and focus on a clean performance at the Olympics, rather than prioritizing the risky quad axel.

Yuma Kagiyama

Malinin's closest competitor in men's figure skating, who has a planned program with only four quad jumps compared to Malinin's potential seven.

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What they’re saying

“I never thought I'd see anybody do a quadruple axel. Not in my lifetime.”

— Scott Hamilton, 1984 Olympic champion (nbcchicago.com)

“Seeing what Ilia has done in the last three years has been mind-boggling. I know several of us — Brian Boitano, Scott Hamilton — we've talked, saying, 'We have never imagined we would be alive to see a quad axel performed and landed in competition,' and here comes Ilia, just whipping it off like it's nothing.”

— Kristi Yamaguchi, 1994 Olympic champion (nbcchicago.com)

“Even as a skater I struggle to comprehend how he does what he does. We all do. It defies gravity.”

— Jason Brown, Olympian (nbcchicago.com)

“I want him to be a smart competitor. I know how much it can mean to a skater to have a clean performance in the Olympics, and I really want him to have a clean performance. Yes, technical — as technical as he wants to be. But if one of the quads he aspires to hit, he isn't feeling great that day, I want him to be solid.”

— Brian Boitano, 1988 Olympic champion (nbcchicago.com)

“I'm coming in as the favorite, but being the favorite is one thing; actually earning it under pressure is another. I don't take it for granted that I'm getting the gold, of course. I still have to put in the work for the long program.”

— Ilia Malinin (nbcchicago.com)

What’s next

Malinin has submitted a program plan for the men's free skate on Friday that includes the quad axel, along with a record-tying seven quad jumps total. The judge will decide on whether Malinin will attempt the historic jump, prioritizing his health and safety.

The takeaway

Ilia Malinin's potential completion of the quad axel at the 2026 Winter Olympics would be a landmark achievement in figure skating, showcasing his unparalleled technical abilities and cementing his status as one of the sport's most dominant and innovative young stars. However, Malinin must balance his ambition with prudence, as his coaches have advised him to prioritize a clean overall performance over the high-risk quad axel.