Ilia Malinin Makes Historic Olympic Debut in Figure Skating Team Event

Two-time world figure skating champion Ilia Malinin made his long-awaited Olympic debut on February 7, 2026, competing in the men's singles qualifying event of the team competition at Milano Cortina. The 21-year-old American skating phenom took the ice at 19:45 CET, marking the beginning of what many expect to be a dominant performance at his first Winter Games. Malinin enters these Olympics as arguably the top men's skater in the world, having claimed four consecutive U.S. national championships and established himself as the sport's most technically advanced competitor.

What sets Malinin apart from his rivals is his revolutionary technical ability, most notably being the only skater in history to successfully land a quadruple axel in competition. The jump, which requires four-and-a-half rotations in the air, was considered nearly impossible until Malinin first executed it in 2022. Since then, he has refined the technique and incorporated it into his competitive programs, giving him a significant scoring advantage over competitors who can only attempt triple axels or simpler quadruple jumps.

For his free skate scheduled for February 13, Malinin is planning to execute an unprecedented seven quadruple jumps, making it the most difficult attempted routine in figure skating history. This ambitious technical content reflects his stated vision to modernize the sport and push the boundaries of what's possible on ice. Beyond the team event, his individual men's singles competition begins with the short program on February 10 at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the free skate on February 13 at 1 p.m. ET.

The United States figure skating team is relying heavily on Malinin to anchor their medal hopes in both the team event and individual competition. Team USA also features Olympic returnees and rising stars including Alysa Liu, who will compete in the women's event. The team competition format requires skaters from each discipline to contribute scores, with medals awarded based on cumulative performance across men's, women's, pairs, and ice dance.

Malinin's Olympic debut comes at a pivotal moment for men's figure skating, as the sport seeks to balance artistic expression with increasingly demanding technical elements. His approach emphasizes both components, combining difficult jumps with nuanced choreography and musical interpretation. The Washington Post recently profiled his vision for the sport, highlighting how he aims to inspire the next generation of skaters to push technical boundaries while maintaining the artistry that defines figure skating.

As the Milano Cortina Games progress, all eyes will be on whether the 'Quad God' can deliver on his enormous potential and claim Olympic gold in his debut appearance. His performance in the team event serves as the first indicator of his form and mental preparation for the individual competition, where he'll face challengers from Japan, South Korea, and other skating powerhouses looking to prevent American dominance.