Ilia Malinin Lights Up Milan With A Historic Backflip As Team USA Edges Japan At The 2026 Winter Olympics
- At just 21, American star Ilia Malinin cemented his place as a global sporting icon after playing a decisive role in Team USA holding off Japan in a dramatic 69–68 Olympic team final.
- Nicknamed the ‘Quad God,’ Malinin produced a jaw-dropping 200.03-point free skate, packing in five quadruple jumps and unveiling the first fully legal one-foot backflip ever seen at the Olympics.
- From the stands in Milan, tennis great Novak Djokovic was caught clutching his head in disbelief as Malinin landed the once-forbidden move that had been outlawed for nearly 50 years.
- The stunning moment came after the International Skating Union’s 2024 rule change that finally lifted the backflip ban, a long-awaited acknowledgment of 1998 pioneer Surya Bonaly.
The Milano Ice Skating Arena didn’t simply host another Olympic event on Sunday night — it became the stage for something unforgettable.
With an atmosphere so charged it felt closer to a rock show than a sporting contest, Ilia Malinin showed exactly why he has emerged as one of the defining faces of the Milan Cortina 2026 Games. Watched by millions around the world — and one especially famous tennis legend — the 21-year-old delivered a fearless, high-stakes performance that seemed to push the sport beyond its limits.
As the music rose, the ‘Quad God’ launched himself into a daring, heart-stopping backflip, landing cleanly on a single blade. Time appeared to pause for a heartbeat before the packed arena of 12,000 fans erupted, the roar so loud it felt as if the building itself might lift.
THE ‘JOKER’S’ REACTION
- THE ICON: Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, seated beside his wife Jelena, leapt to his feet with his hands on his head, visibly stunned by what he had just witnessed.
- THE TRIBUTE: Malinin later said he was overwhelmed by the moment, describing it as once-in-a-lifetime to feel that level of reaction from an athlete of Djokovic’s stature.
- THE SCORE: His towering 200.03 points narrowly surpassed Japan’s Shun Sato (194.86), delivering the crucial edge that secured the one-point victory for the United States.
Ilia Malinin’s historic skate to the music from Succession
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This was far more than a flashy element — it was a powerful echo of skating history. By landing the backflip within the rules, Malinin effectively brought closure to a controversial chapter that had lingered for five decades. The move was famously associated with France’s Surya Bonaly, who was harshly penalized for performing it at the 1998 Nagano Games.
With the ISU’s 2024 decision to finally allow the element, the so-called ‘Bonaly Flip’ now stands as a gleaming symbol of a freer, more expressive era in figure skating.
“It was fun,” Malinin said afterward, his gold medal catching the arena lights. “The crowd just exploded… they were completely out of control. That energy made me truly feel what it means to skate on the Olympic stage.”
Even under immense pressure, Malinin remained strikingly grounded, speaking openly about how fragile a sporting career can be. “I try to appreciate every moment and stay grateful,” he reflected. “So many unexpected things can happen in life. I take everything to heart.”
With Team USA successfully defending their Olympic title from Beijing, attention now shifts toward the individual competition, where Malinin is widely viewed as the favorite. If this night proved anything, it’s that the ‘Quad God’ may only be at the beginning of his Olympic story.
