Novak Djokovic Stunned by Ilia Malinin's Historic Backflip at Olympics

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In a stunning display at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, 21-year-old American figure skater Ilia Malinin landed the first legal backflip in nearly 50 years, scoring an impressive 200.03 points and helping secure the gold medal for Team USA in the team event. Cameras caught tennis great Novak Djokovic, seated in the VIP section, with a look of pure disbelief on his face as Malinin stuck the high-risk, high-reward move.

Why it matters

Malinin's backflip represents a historic shift in figure skating, blending athletic innovation with Olympic tradition. The move, banned by the International Skating Union (ISU) for decades, was recently legalized in 2024 to modernize the sport. Malinin's performance has the potential to attract new fans to the sport, much like the NBA dunk contest did for basketball in the 1980s.

The details

Heading into the men's free skate, the final event of the team competition, the pressure was on Malinin to deliver a standout performance to help Team USA overtake Japan. Rather than play it safe, the young American phenom chose to integrate the banned backflip into his routine, nailing the landing and scoring a massive 200.03 points. This score vaulted the United States over Japan, securing back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the team event.

• Malinin landed the historic backflip during his free skate performance on February 10, 2026.
• The backflip was banned by the ISU for nearly 50 years until the rule was lifted in 2024.

What’s next

Malinin will now compete in the men's singles event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he is a favorite for the gold medal.