Why American “quad god” Ilia Malinin skates like no one else

The American figure skater Ilia Malinin has become a dominant force in the sport, known for his incredible jumping ability and the quadruple axel, considered the most difficult jump in all of figure skating. His talent is so great that it's almost impossible to imagine anyone beating him on the ice. With his quadruple axel, Malinin can land jumps that others can only dream of, making him a favorite to win gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Malinin's quadruple axel has changed the way figure skating is approached in the US and around the world. He has broken scoring records left and right, and when he skates his best, it's hard to see anyone taking second place. The paradox of watching Malinin skate is that there isn't any suspense - he's so good that you can almost write him a check before he even steps onto the ice.

The origins of the quadruple axel are rooted in human history and physics. Canadian Vern Taylor became the first person to land it in international competition in 1978, but many others attempted to master it without success. The key factor is not just athleticism, but also a combination of factors including rotation speed and height.

Malinin's incredible talent has led some experts to compare him to other great athletes such as Simone Biles, an American gymnast who dominated the sport with her record-breaking performances. Malinin was identified by US Figure Skating officials at a young age, and they began scouting for talented skaters in junior competitions. The organization believes that spotting potential talent early is key to developing future champions.

However, experts agree that there's still much room for growth and improvement from Malinin, especially as he continues to compete at the highest level. It may take time to see whether his talent can continue to evolve beyond just quadruple jumps, but one thing is certain: Ilia Malinin has already proven himself to be a generational athlete in figure skating.

For those that might believe that there's no room for improvement from Malinin, Sandra Bezic, a Canadian champion pairs skater and choreographer, notes that even the best athletes need to continue learning and growing throughout their careers. She also believes that Malinin has shown an interest in developing his artistic side as well, which is an essential element of figure skating.

In conclusion, Ilia Malinin's incredible talent has made him a standout in figure skating, but it's clear that there's still much for him to learn and achieve at the highest level. Whether or not he continues to push himself to new heights remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his presence on the ice will continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
 
🤔 I'm so over how easy it is to predict Malinin's winning streaks... where's the suspense? He just glides across the ice like a pro and lands those insane jumps with ease 🤯. Meanwhile, we're still waiting for some new blood in figure skating to emerge and give him a run for his money 🏃‍♂️.

And can we talk about how overhyped Malinin is getting? I mean, yes, he's incredibly talented, but does that really make him a generational athlete? What about the others who haven't had the same level of exposure or support from US Figure Skating officials? 🤷‍♂️ It feels like there's only so much room for growth and improvement in his skillset... maybe we'll just get stuck watching him dominate for years to come 😒.
 
I'm so done with all these skating competitions 🤯. Malinin's got skills for days, no doubt about it 😎. But at some point, can we have a bit of suspense? Like, I know he's gonna nail that quadruple axel every time, but what if something goes wrong?! 🤔

I mean, don't get me wrong, the guy's a genius on ice...like, how else are you supposed to land those jumps?! 🤯 But still, it'd be nice to see some drama or tension in his performances. Maybe he could have some rivalries with other skaters? 🏆

And yeah, I agree with Sandra Bezic - even the best athletes need to keep growing and learning. Malinin's got all these accolades, but what if he decides to retire early? Like, we know it's gonna be a while before anyone can beat him, but still...it'd be cool to see some new faces emerge 🤝.
 
I'm telling ya, this Ilia Malinin guy is gonna be a total bust 🤦‍♂️. I mean, sure, he's got some sick jumps and all that jazz, but have you seen any of his landings? They're shaky at best! And don't even get me started on the whole "he's unbeatable" thing - I bet he's just resting on his laurels waiting for someone to come along and take him down 😏. And what's with all this talk about how he's gonna continue to evolve as a skater? Please, it's time for some new blood in figure skating 🔄. Malinin's got the talent, but he's not innovative - I bet if you showed him some crazy new tricks to try out, that's when things would get interesting 🔥.
 
I'm loving this Malinin dude! 🤩 He's like a superhero on ice, defying gravity with that quadruple axel 🌪️. I mean, can you even imagine anyone taking him down? 😂 It's like watching a masterclass every time he steps onto the rink. But what's really impressive is how his talent has changed the sport as a whole 🔄. He's raising the bar for US figure skaters and making them look up to him 👊.

And yeah, I can see why experts are comparing him to Simone Biles 🤸‍♀️ - she was known for her record-breaking performances too! But what I love about Malinin is that he's not just a one-trick pony 🎪. He's got an interest in developing his artistic side, which is so important in figure skating 💫.

I do think there's still room for growth from him, though 😊. We've never seen anyone as talented as Malinin before, but I'm sure he'll keep pushing himself to new heights 🌆. And when he does, we can't wait to see it! 💥
 
lololol what's up with this quadruple axel craze?? 🤯 like, I get it, Ilia Malinin is insane and all, but can't he just make a jump that doesn't involve 4.5 rotations in the air? 😂 and honestly, scoring records being broken left and right sounds kinda fake to me... shouldn't judges be judging on more than just jumps? 🤔 also, what's up with everyone comparing him to Simone Biles... like, she's a gymnast, not figure skater lololol 😂
 
I'm low-key obsessed with Ilia Malinin right now 🤩. The guy's got skills for days and that quadruple axel is just mind-blowing! I mean, I've seen some of his vids and it's like he's defying gravity on the ice 😲. And it's not just his jumps – he's also got this effortless glide thing going on that makes him look like a pro even when he's skating to a super fast-paced song 🎶.

But what really impresses me is how US Figure Skating has been able to spot talent in young skaters like Malinin and nurture it from the start. It's like they have some kind of magic formula for creating future champions 🤔. And now that he's already got so much experience under his belt, I'm excited to see what the future holds for him – whether it's more record-breaking jumps or continued growth as an artist on the ice 🎭.

I think one thing we can all agree on is that Malinin has brought a whole new level of excitement to figure skating 🤩. When he's on the ice, you can't help but watch and be amazed by his talent – it's like having your eyes glued to a screen 📺. Can't wait to see what he does next! 👏
 
🤯 Malinin is literally unstoppable on the ice 🏒️. I mean, who needs suspense when someone's this good? 😂 It's like he's defying physics or something. His quadruple axel is mind-blowing! I'm loving how experts are saying he's got room to grow and improve - it'll be interesting to see if he can keep pushing himself to new heights 🚀. And yeah, the artistry thing is super important in figure skating too... Sandra Bezic makes some great points about that 💯. Can't wait to see what he does next!
 
he's so dominant its kinda scary to watch... i mean, who needs suspense when you know they're gonna crush it? 😂 i'm not sure if its a good or bad thing, either way malinin's skills are mind-blowing - quadruple axels should def be in every skater's repertoire but alas, its just not the same 🤔
 
man... ilia malinin is like a force of nature out there 🌪️, you know? everyone's hyped about this quadruple axel, and it's crazy to think he can even attempt such a move without falling 😲. but at the same time, it's kinda scary how good he is - like, what if he doesn't just stop here, but keeps innovating and pushing himself to new heights? 🤯

i mean, it makes you wonder about the value of "good enough" in sports, right? malinin's talent is so obvious that you can almost see him taking gold medals on autopilot 🏅. but what if he doesn't need that kind of pressure to perform? what if he just enjoys skating for the sake of it?

it's also interesting to think about how the culture of figure skating has changed with malinin's rise to fame 💥 - suddenly, everyone wants to be like him, and it's hard to imagine anyone taking second place 🤷‍♂️. but at the same time, maybe that's what we need more of: athletes who aren't afraid to take risks and push the limits of what's possible?

anyway... malinin's still got a lot to learn, but one thing's for sure - he's already left an indelible mark on the sport 🎨.
 
🤯 I mean, have you seen Ilia Malinin skate? It's like watching a masterclass every time he steps onto the ice! 😲 The way he nails that quadruple axel is just mind-blowing. But what really gets me is how much attention he's getting for being almost unbeatable. Like, where's the suspense in that? 🤔 Don't get me wrong, I love watching him skate - his passion and joy on the ice are infectious! 💖 But at the same time, it's like he's been written off as a guaranteed gold medalist already. What if he doesn't live up to expectations? 🤞
 
🤷‍♂️ so ilia malinin is basically unstoppable huh? like how do you even watch him skate without just throwing money at the ticket vendor beforehand lol. seriously though, 1978 was a pretty rough time for guys trying to land the quadruple axel, but malinin's made it look easy. maybe we'll see him break some scoring records or two (or ten) before the milan cortina olympics? 🏅
 
he's literally a god out there lol 🤣 i mean i get it, quadruple axel is insane but can you imagine if he tries and fails? the suspense would be so much more thrilling 😂 anyway, i love how they're saying he's got room for growth tho, like even simone biles had her ups and downs. and yeah, Sandra Bezic makes a good point about artistic side too, gotta keep it fresh 🎨
 
omg this guy malinin is so overhyped 🤯 anyone can land a quadruple axel if they train enough... its not like he's actually trying to innovate anything or push the limits of what's possible in figure skating, he's just skating to win and that's it 💸 don't get me wrong, he's got skills but so do lots of others out there who aren't getting the same attention 🤷‍♀️
 
😊 The notion that Malinin's quadruple axel has rendered suspenseful competition obsolete seems counterintuitive, yet it speaks to his unparalleled skill and consistency. One cannot help but wonder whether the perpetual expectation of perfection has stifled genuine growth in his craft, or if he will continue to push the boundaries of human potential. 🤔
 
🤔 This Ilia Malinin dude is like a superhero in figure skating 🦸‍♂️! He's so dominant it's almost boring to watch him skate 😴. I mean, who needs suspense when you know he's gonna nail every jump? But at the same time, I'm kinda worried that he's gonna get too comfortable and not push himself to improve anymore 🤯. I think his US Figure Skating officials did a great job spotting talent in him from a young age, but now it's up to Ilia to keep growing as an athlete and artist 💪. And yeah, comparing him to Simone Biles is apt - both are absolute rockstars in their respective sports 🤩! The only downside is that we'll have to wait and see if he can evolve his skills beyond just quadruple jumps 🤔. Still, I'm hyped to watch him skate at the Olympics in 2026 and see what he's got up his sleeve 🔥.
 
he's gonna crush it in 2026 lol 💥 i mean, have you seen his form? it's like a work of art 🎨 he's got that quadruple axel down pat and it's giving me chills every time 🤯 meanwhile, some people are saying he can't be beat... but honestly, who can even come close to him? 😂 and yeah, spoting talent early is key... US Figure Skating did the right thing in scouting him out from a young age 👍
 
Wow 🤯 Ilia Malinin is literally a god on ice 😲 His quadruple axel is insane! I mean, who else can pull off that move flawlessly? Interesting how experts are saying he's still got room for growth tho... like, you're already the best in the world, what do you need to improve? 🤔
 
man he's like a superhero on skates lol 🤸‍♂️ can't wait to see if he'll keep pushing those limits and innovating his routines 🎯 still gotta admire how far US Figure Skating has come in spotting talent early, that's some genius scouting work 📚 now we just gotta sit back and watch this kid crush it on the ice 🔥
 
I think Malinin is literally a superhero on ice 🤸‍♂️... I mean, have you seen him land that quadruple axel?! It's like he defies gravity or something 😮... people say he's unbeatable, and honestly, it's hard to argue with that. He's got the skills, the talent, and the dedication to back it up.

I also love how US Figure Skating officials are scouting for talented skaters from a young age. It's clear they're investing in the future of the sport 🙌... and it pays off when you see someone like Malinin dominate the competition.

Now, I know some people might say he can't improve or that his talent will be his downfall, but I think that's just not true 🤷‍♂️... I mean, even Simone Biles, one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, kept pushing herself to new heights throughout her career. Malinin seems like the same kind of athlete.

And have you seen Sandra Bezic's comments about him developing his artistic side? That's really interesting 🤔... figure skating is just as much about artistry as it is about athleticism, and I think Malinin has shown that he can bring both to the table.

All in all, Malinin is a game-changer for figure skating, and I'm excited to see where his career takes him next 💥
 
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