Malinin Aims for Historic Quad Axel in Men's Figure Skating Final

The 21-year-old American phenom looks to become the first to land the elusive 4.5-revolution jump at the Olympics

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old American figure skating star, is set to compete in the men's free skate at the Winter Olympics, where he could make history by attempting to become the first to land the quadruple axel jump in Olympic competition. Malinin, who leads the field by a wide margin after the short program, has teased the inclusion of the quad axel in his final routine, a jump so difficult that no one has ever landed it before in competition.

Why it matters

Malinin's potential achievement would cement his status as one of the most dominant and innovative figure skaters of his generation. The quad axel, a 4.5-revolution jump, has long been considered the 'holy grail' of figure skating, and Malinin's mastery of it would solidify the U.S. men's team's continued dominance in the sport.

The details

Malinin's free skate program is set to include a record-tying seven quad jumps, including the potential quad axel. His closest competitor, Japan's Yuma Kagiyama, has only four quads planned. While Malinin has the technical advantage, he has acknowledged the immense pressure of competing at the Olympics and the need to prioritize a clean, solid performance over attempting the risky quad axel if he is not feeling fully confident.

  • The men's free skate begins at 12 p.m. CT on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Malinin will skate last in the event, which goes in reverse order of scores from the short program.

The players

Ilia Malinin

A 21-year-old American figure skater who is the favorite to win the gold medal in the men's event. Malinin is known for his technical prowess, including his potential to become the first skater to land the quadruple axel jump in competition.

Yuma Kagiyama

A Japanese figure skater who is Malinin's closest rival, having finished second to him in the short program. Kagiyama will need to make up a five-point deficit in the free skate to have a chance at the gold medal.

Adam Siao Him Fa

A French figure skater who was the last skater to beat Malinin more than two years ago. He finished third in the short program and will be looking to challenge for a medal.

Maxim Naumov

An American figure skater who has captured the hearts of many with his emotional performances, including after the recent passing of his parents.

Scott Hamilton

A former Olympic champion and figure skating commentator who has expressed disbelief at the possibility of seeing a quadruple axel landed in competition during his lifetime.

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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

“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

“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 (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

“This is sports. You never know what is going to happen.”

— Yuma Kagiyama (nbcchicago.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

Malinin's potential achievement of landing the first-ever quad axel at the Olympics would cement his status as one of the most dominant and innovative figure skaters of his generation, further solidifying the U.S. men's team's continued dominance in the sport.