Ilia Malinin, the 'Quad God' of Figure Skating

The U.S. figure skater earned his impressive nickname through his mastery of quadruple jumps.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ilia Malinin, the 22-year-old American figure skater, has become known as the "Quad God" for his ability to land multiple quadruple jumps in his programs. Malinin changed his Instagram handle to "ilia_quadg0d_malinin" as a nod to his quad-jumping prowess, which has included becoming the first skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition. His nickname reflects his dominance in the sport and the high degree of difficulty he has achieved.

Why it matters

Malinin's success in landing multiple quads has made him a gold medal favorite at the 2026 Winter Olympics. His nickname reflects his status as one of the most technically gifted figure skaters in the world and highlights the progression of the sport towards more challenging jumps.

The details

Malinin first started using the "Quad God" nickname after landing two quadruple jumps - the quad toe loop and quad Salchow - in his senior debut at the 2020 Skate America event. Despite some initial criticism, Malinin has continued to push the boundaries of what's possible in figure skating, becoming the first to land a quad Axel in competition.

  • Malinin changed his Instagram handle to "ilia_quadg0d_malinin" in 2025.
  • Malinin landed his first two sanctioned quadruple jumps at the 2020 Skate America event.
  • Malinin is the favorite to win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The players

Ilia Malinin

A 22-year-old American figure skater known for his mastery of quadruple jumps, including becoming the first to land a quadruple Axel in competition.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Everyone kind of got angry at me, like, 'Why'd you name yourself Quadg0d? You only landed two quads,' And I was like, 'Well, I guess now it's time for me to land the rest of them.' The username was my motivation.”

— Ilia Malinin (Washingtonian)

What’s next

Malinin will look to cement his status as the "Quad God" by winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The takeaway

Ilia Malinin's rise to the top of figure skating has been fueled by his mastery of the most technically challenging jumps in the sport. His self-given "Quad God" nickname reflects his dominance and the progression of figure skating towards ever-more difficult elements.