Breakout Olympian Ilia Malinin Follows in Parents' Skating Footsteps

The 'quad god' is the only skater to land the rare quadruple axel in competition, thanks to his figure skating legacy.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Ilia Malinin is making a name for himself at the 2026 Winter Olympics with his breakout performances, including becoming the first skater to land the quadruple axel in competition. Malinin's figure skating roots run deep, as both of his parents - Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov - were professional figure skaters who competed for the Soviet Union and later Uzbekistan.

Why it matters

Malinin's success highlights the impact of his family's figure skating legacy and the dedication required to master rare and difficult skills like the quadruple axel. His achievements are inspiring the next generation of figure skaters and showcasing the sport's evolution.

The details

Malinin's mother, Tatiana Malinina, was a decorated figure skater who competed in 10 straight World Championships starting in 1993 and won gold at the first-ever Four Continents Championship in 1999. His father, Roman Skorniakov, was the Uzbek national champion seven times from 1997-2003. Both parents moved the family to the U.S. in search of better training conditions, and they now work as skating coaches in Virginia.

  • Malinin's parents competed professionally for the Soviet Union and later Uzbekistan in the 1990s and early 2000s.
  • Malinin's parents moved the family to Dale City, Virginia in 1998 to find better training conditions.
  • Malinin is making his Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games.

The players

Ilia Malinin

A breakout figure skating star at the 2026 Winter Olympics, known for landing the rare quadruple axel.

Tatiana Malinina

Ilia Malinin's mother, a former figure skater who competed for the Soviet Union and Uzbekistan, winning gold medals at the World Championships and Four Continents Championship.

Roman Skorniakov

Ilia Malinin's father, a former figure skater who competed for Uzbekistan and was the national champion seven times from 1997-2003.

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What they’re saying

“They went to the training camp with the team. Tania was convinced that the results could be achieved in the United States after spending some time there. For skaters, the main thing is ice. And in Russia, there is not so much of it, so many use additional training.”

— Ilia Malinin's grandfather (2023 interview)

What’s next

Malinin will look to build on his breakout Olympic performance and continue pushing the boundaries of figure skating with his rare quad axel skill.

The takeaway

Ilia Malinin's success at the 2026 Olympics showcases the impact of his family's deep figure skating roots and the dedication required to master elite-level skills. His achievements are inspiring the next generation of skaters and demonstrating the sport's ongoing evolution.