American 'Quad God' Keeps Olympics Fans Guessing On Riskiest Move

Ilia Malinin has yet to attempt the quad axel, the hardest quadruple jump, at the Milan Cortina Olympics despite teasing fans with plans to do so.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

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 - at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Despite submitting program plans that include the risky jump, Malinin has opted for the safer triple axel in his performances so far. The 18-year-old has a comfortable lead going into the free skate, giving him some wiggle room if he does decide to go for the historic quad axel attempt.

Why it matters

The quad axel is considered the most difficult quadruple jump in figure skating, with only Malinin having landed it in competition. If he were to successfully complete the jump at the Olympics, it would be a historic moment for the sport. However, the risk of failure is high, and Malinin has to balance his desire to push the boundaries of the sport with the need for a clean, medal-winning performance.

The details

Malinin has submitted plans for his free skate that include a record-tying seven quadruple jumps, with the quad axel being the most challenging. The jump is so difficult that even elite skaters struggle with the triple axel version. Malinin is able to spin at around 340 revolutions per minute to generate the speed needed for the extra half-revolution. At last year's world championships, he landed the quad axel along with the other five quad jumps, winning the title by the second-largest margin in history.

  • Malinin stunned the sport by landing a near-perfect quad axel at the off-the-radar U.S. International Figure Skating Classic in September 2022, when he was just 17 years old.
  • At last year's world championships in Boston, Malinin landed the quad axel along with each of the other five quad jumps, propelling him to his second straight title with the second-largest margin of victory in its 130-year history.

The players

Ilia Malinin

An American figure skating star known as the 'Quad God' for his ability to land multiple quadruple jumps, including the incredibly difficult quad axel which no one else has landed in competition.

Yuma Kagiyama

A Japanese figure skater who is currently in second place behind Malinin going into the free skate at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Adam Siao Him Fa

A French figure skater who is currently in third place behind Malinin and Kagiyama going into the free skate at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Scott Hamilton

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

Kristi Yamaguchi

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

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“My lazy part of me, just forgetting to change the planned elements.”

— Ilia Malinin (huffpost.com)

“I'm hoping that I'll feel good enough to do it. But of course I always prioritize health and safety. So I really want to put myself in the right mindset where I'll feel really confident to go into it”

— Ilia Malinin (huffpost.com)

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

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

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.