U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin, a 21-year-old from Virginia, made history on Sunday night at the Winter Olympics by executing a backflip known as “the Bonaly flip” during his gold medal-clinching free skate. This move, popularized by French skater Surya Bonaly in 1998, was previously banned but is now allowed purely for artistic expression as it does not earn technical points.
Malinin’s claim to fame extends beyond this backflip, as he was the first figure skater to successfully perform the quadruple axel in competition when he was just 17 years old in 2022. This complex jump involves four and a half rotations and is considered one of the most challenging in figure skating.
Nicknamed the “Quad God” for his proficiency in quad jumps, Malinin credits his natural jumping ability and the influence of past jumpers for his success. Sports writer Pj Kwong commended Malinin’s talent and acknowledged the inspiration he drew from those who came before him.
Canadian figure skating legend Kurt Browning praised Malinin for his mastery of the quad axel, highlighting the difficulty of executing a forward takeoff in a sport where most jumps land on the back of the skate. Browning emphasized Malinin’s unique abilities, including a powerful takeoff and mental strength, which contribute to his success in performing the quad axel.
Malinin’s exceptional skills may also stem from his upbringing, as both of his parents, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, are former Olympic skaters from Uzbekistan. Despite his achievements, Malinin remains humble, expressing his desire to connect with fans on a human level and emphasize that skaters, despite their extraordinary feats on the ice, are also ordinary individuals.
