At a Glance
- Ilia Malinin, 20, aims to perform seven quads at the Olympic Winter Games.
- He has won 18 of 21 competitions, podiumed every time.
- Nicknamed the “Quad God,” he seeks a gold medal in Italy and a revival of skating’s popularity.
- Why it matters: The skater’s ambition could reshape figure skating’s Olympic narrative and rekindle global interest.
The 20-year-old figure skater Ilia Malinin is setting his sights on the Olympic Winter Games with a bold goal: performing seven quadruple jumps. With 18 victories from 21 competitions and a streak of podium finishes, he is already a standout. Malinin also hopes to win gold in Italy and revive the sport’s worldwide appeal.
Career Highlights
Malinin finished ninth at the 2022 World Championships and has since entered 21 competitions, winning 18 and landing on the podium in every event. His consistent success has earned him the nickname “Quad God.”
- 9th at 2022 Worlds
- 21 competitions entered
- 18 wins
- 100% podium finishes
Olympic Goal
The centerpiece of Malinin’s Olympic ambition is to land seven quads on the ice. Jason Brown praised the feat, noting that Ilia can indeed do it.
Jason Brown stated:
> “There’s one thing for someone to say, ‘My goal is to do seven quads,'” figure skater Jason Brown said. “And there’s another thing to have Ilia… He can do seven quads.”
Malinin described his drive: “It’s always a motivation for me to always try to push my limit, try to just keep on going and going and going as far as I can,” he said.
Ilia Malinin added:
> “I have a few nicknames,” he said. “Quad God’s the main one, but also, I have gone with ‘Chaos Kid.'”
Vision for the Sport
Beyond the Olympics, Malinin aims to win gold in Italy this winter and spark renewed interest in figure skating. He said, “My goal is to bring back how skating was decades ago, where all the venues were sold out for competitions, for shows,” he said. “It was on every TV or news broadcast. And I feel now that I now want to devote my time and work towards.”
Key Takeaways
- Ilia Malinin seeks to perform seven quads at the Olympics.
- He has won 18 of 21 competitions and is on every podium.
- He aims to revive figure skating’s popularity and win gold in Italy.
Malinin’s quest for seven quads and a gold medal could bring a new household name to the sport and reignite global enthusiasm for figure skating.
