Teen Skater Lands 'Impossible' Jump, Eyes 5-Revolution Leap
A 17-year-old from Virginia became the first person ever to land a quad axel in competition, a jump legendary coaches swore was physically impossible. Now Ilia Malinin is preparing to attempt something even more mind-blowing: a five-revolution jump that could redefine figure skating.
The world said it couldn't be done. In 2021, a famous Russian coach declared no skater would ever complete a quad axel in his lifetime. Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu tried and fell at the 2022 Winter Games, seemingly proving the doubters right.
Then Ilia Malinin stepped onto the ice.
At just 17, the Virginia teenager nailed the "impossible" quad axel at the 2022 US International Figure Skating Classic. The jump requires four and a half rotations in the air, and for decades, it remained the only quad that no one could land in competition.
Malinin has since won back-to-back world championships and heads into the 2026 Winter Olympics as the overwhelming favorite for gold. But he's not satisfied. He's already training for something even more ambitious: the quint, a five-revolution jump.
"I do believe it's possible," Malinin told CBS Sunday Morning.
Scientists have studied what makes Malinin different. Lindsay Slater Hannigan, sports sciences manager for US Figure Skating, discovered his secret: efficiency. Most elite skaters need to spin at about 1,900 to 2,100 degrees per second to complete their hardest jumps.
Malinin does his quad axel at just 1,800 degrees per second. He doesn't need to spin faster because he snaps into position quicker and holds it longer. His groundbreaking quad axel looks as smooth as other skaters' easier triple axels.
The Associated Press recently declared a quint impossible, claiming sports scientists agree the speed needed can't be achieved. But Hannigan's research tells a different story. Malinin hasn't even maxed out his rotational ability yet.
Why This Inspires
What seemed impossible in 2021 became reality in 2022. Malinin represents decades of evolution in figure skating, from better training methods to more efficient jumping techniques. His success proves that human potential keeps surprising us, and that the next generation often accomplishes what experts swear can't be done.
When Kurt Browning landed the first competitive quad in 1988, it launched the "quad era" of men's figure skating. Thirty-four years later, Malinin completed the final quad. Now he's opening a door to an entirely new era, one rotation at a time.
The teen they call the "Quad God" keeps rewriting the rules of what's humanly possible.
More Images
Based on reporting by Wired
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
Spread the positivity!
Share this good news with someone who needs it
