Ilia Malinin, the 22-year-old American figure skating sensation, captivated audiences with a daring backflip during the short program at the team event for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics held at the Milan Arena in Italy. As the final jumper, Malinin executed the banned maneuver flawlessly, marking its return to Olympic-level competition after 50 years.
A Technical Masterclass with a Twist
Malinin, known as the top seed and a crowd favorite, landed a quad loop-axel combination with four pre-rotations—the most challenging attempt recorded. He succeeded in all six quad loops (four pre-rotations), showcasing his prowess in quad loop flips, quad loop lutzes, triple axels, and more. Despite a strong step sequence, judges issued a deduction for the backflip, yet his performance highlighted his innovative edge.
History of the Controversial Backflip
The backflip first appeared in the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics when Terry Kubicka of the USA performed it. The International Skating Union (ISU) quickly banned the move due to safety concerns over potential head-first landings, classifying it as more dangerous than other elements.
Skaters faced penalties for attempting it. Surya Bonaly, a prominent French skater and 1990s world silver medalist who also landed triple axels, executed a backflip at the 1998 Nagano Olympics despite the ban. She expressed frustration, stating, “White and Asian skaters are monopolizing figure skating.”
Recent Revival and ISU Policy Shift
The backflip reemerged in 2024 when French skater Adam Siao Him Fa incorporated it into his routine. Although warned at the European Championships for performing it in January, he explained, “I knew I would receive a deduction, but for the development of figure skating, I wanted to showcase this technique.”
The ISU responded at its 2024 congress by deciding not to penalize backflips for the 2024-2025 season, declaring, “Banning the backflip is no longer realistic.” While it earns no grade of execution or program component scores, the move now enjoys legitimacy without deductions.
Team Event Results
Malin’s short program earned 83.53 points, securing 8th place among the top 10 qualifiers. The U.S. team tallied 14 points total, finishing 7th and advancing to the free skate among the top five nations. Malinin’s backflip injected excitement into the competition, underscoring his status as a trailblazer in the sport.
