American 'Quad God' Ilia Malinin Aims for Hardest Jump at Olympics

Malinin teases fans with plans to attempt the elusive quad axel in his final Olympic free skate.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Ilia Malinin, the American figure skating star known as the 'Quad God', has yet to attempt the quad axel - a 4 1/2-revolution jump that no one else has landed in competition - in his events at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Malinin has a big lead going into the free skate and may save the quad axel attempt for his grand finale, though he says he'll prioritize his health and safety. The quad axel is the most difficult jump in figure skating, with a base value of 12.5 points compared to 8.0 for the triple axel.

Why it matters

Malinin's potential quad axel attempt would be a historic moment in figure skating, as the jump was long considered impossible until Malinin proved it could be done. His ability to land the quad axel gives him a massive scoring advantage over his competitors, but there are risks involved that could jeopardize a clean performance at the Olympics.

The details

Malinin has submitted plans to attempt the quad axel as part of a record-tying seven quads in his free skate on Friday. However, he has yet to actually try the jump in competition so far, opting instead for the safer triple axel that the other top skaters are doing. Malinin says he'll only attempt the quad axel if he feels completely confident and healthy, prioritizing safety over the scoring advantage.

  • Malinin stunned the skating world by landing the quad axel at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic in September 2022.
  • At last year's world championships, Malinin landed the quad axel along with each of the other five quad jumps, winning his second straight title by the second-largest margin in history.

The players

Ilia Malinin

The 18-year-old American figure skating star known as the 'Quad God' for his ability to land multiple quad jumps, including the elusive quad axel that no one else has accomplished in competition.

Yuma Kagiyama

The Japanese figure skater who is currently in second place behind Malinin heading into the Olympic free skate.

Adam Siao Him Fa

The French figure skater who is in third place behind Malinin and Kagiyama heading into the Olympic free skate.

Scott Hamilton

The 1984 Olympic figure skating champion who admitted he never thought he'd see anyone land a quadruple axel in his lifetime.

Kristi Yamaguchi

The 1994 Olympic figure skating champion who has been amazed by Malinin's ability to land the quad axel.

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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 figure skating champion (wbal.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 figure skating champion (wbal.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 figure skating champion (wbal.com)

What’s next

Malinin will make his final decision on whether to attempt the quad axel in his free skate on Friday, the last event of the figure skating competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

The takeaway

Ilia Malinin's potential quad axel attempt at the Olympics would be a historic moment, showcasing his unparalleled technical abilities. However, he must balance his desire to push the boundaries of the sport with the need to deliver a clean, safe performance on the biggest stage. His decision could have a major impact on the outcome of the men's figure skating competition.