**The Allure of Figure Skating: Ilia Malinin’s Story of Courage, Technical Mastery, and Artistic Evolution**
*By [Author Name]*
*Irvine, CA*
Figure skating captivates millions—even those who wouldn’t recognize Axel Paulsen from Ulrich Salchow—because it tells a story. More than any other sport, skating possesses a cinematic quality, complete with a soundtrack.
“That’s what makes skating unique compared to, let’s say, hockey, or something that’s based on a clock,” said Shae-Lynn Bourne, a former world champion ice dancer for Canada and one of the sport’s top choreographers. “We get to express. So it’s kind of our athletic art.”
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### Ilia Malinin: The Quad God
Ilia Malinin, figure skating’s current sensation, first emerged earlier this decade as the sport’s next great action hero—a teenager capable of soaring through the air with breathtaking spins and leaps. Celebrated as the self-proclaimed “Quad God,” Malinin stunned the world by landing 4½ rotations before landing.
At just 18 years old, in September 2022, he became the first person ever to successfully land a quadruple Axel—the sport’s most difficult jump—in competition. Two-time Olympian Johnny Weir likened this achievement to the first moon landing.
“He is beyond out of this world,” said Jason Brown, a 2022 Olympian.
Malinin won his first World title in 2024 at Montreal by breaking the free skate world record previously held by 2022 Olympic champion Nathan Chen. At the 2024 World Championships in Boston, he defended his title by landing all six types of quadruple jumps in a single free skate—an unprecedented feat.
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### A Skater Like No Other
“There’s no way to compare him to any skater from the past,” said Tatiana Tarasova, a legendary Russian coach who has trained more Olympic and world champions than anyone else in figure skating history. “Right now, he has no rivals, and back then, there wouldn’t have been any either.”
While top athletes of the past performed one or two quadruple jumps at best, Malinin has raised the bar significantly. “Maybe in 15 or 20 years, someone stronger than Ilia will emerge, but in the past, there was no one like him,” Tarasova added.
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### Beyond Athletics: The Artistic Maturity of Malinin
At 21, Malinin is not just a powerhouse of jumps; he is also evolving artistically. As the face of the sport and a marquee name for the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan and the U.S. Championships in St. Louis, he is determined to redefine himself and the sport itself.
“This year,” Malinin explained, “I really put myself on the ice as a different skater.”
Despite his explosive athleticism—reminiscent of famed skier Jean-Claude Killy’s ability to soar—what stands out most in this record-breaking Olympic season is the maturity of his skating and the emotional risks he takes in his programs.
His two autobiographical programs—the short program and the free skate—have become vehicles to trace his journey to Milan and chart his path forward with vulnerability and honesty. Interspersed with his free skate’s music is Malinin’s own voice, lending a personal, introspective quality rarely seen in men’s figure skating.
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### “The Only True Wisdom Is Knowing You Know Nothing”
On the eve of what may be the most important two months of his life, with the world watching, Malinin shared part of his story.
At one point in his free skate, he says, “The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing.” At another, “Embrace the storm.”
“It’s like both programs have the idea of being a process of changing and becoming a better person,” Malinin said during an interview at Great Park Ice in Irvine, where he often trains with Bourne and renowned coach Rafael Arutyunyan.
He explained that the short program represents the physical battles one must endure during transformation, while the longer free skate delves deeper into psychological reflection.
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### Crafting a Story on Ice
Both programs reflect the influence of Bourne and Arutyunyan, as well as Malinin’s broader perspective on skating and life.
“I really believe that the story—what they’re skating about—being present and committed and having meaning to every move is what ties everything together and lures the audience in,” Bourne said. “The judges are just the audience. If you’re captivating the people, you’re captivating them—you have to tell stories. It’s like a movie, but two to four minutes long. You want to make people feel something and remember what you did.”
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### The Short Program: “The Lost Crown”
The short program, titled *The Lost Crown*, is an action-packed routine that fits the sport’s expectations for Malinin.
“There’s a magical quality to the story,” Bourne said. “He possesses some extra abilities to be this ultimate warrior. It starts low and mysterious, like hiding and training—the grind of practice, with its pain and doubts.”
The music changes to represent a battle, a “survival of the fittest” story, culminating in an explosive finale where Malinin raps and grooves, symbolizing his emergence as the ultimate warrior.
“You have to be your own competition if you want to be your best self—that is the real challenge,” Bourne concluded.
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### The Free Skate: “A Voice”
Malinin’s free skate program, named *A Voice*, is deeply personal. It features his own words, recorded with the help of Bourne’s husband, Bohdan Turok—a director and producer who guided Malinin through expressing his thoughts meaningfully.
Ilia’s vulnerable and contemplative narration is a testament to where he is in life—just turned 21, mulling over deep questions about existence.
“It’s definitely something I’ve noticed in my life—I see things differently,” Malinin said. “Everything looks connected. I think more deeply about everything I do.”
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### Skating Legacy and Family Roots
Malinin was born in Fairfax, Virginia, in 2004. Both his parents, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, were Olympians for Uzbekistan. Tatiana won the 1999 Grand Prix Final and Four Continents event, while Roman was a seven-time national champion.
Growing up in an environment centered around skating, Malinin’s first love was actually soccer. Neymar was his favorite player. However, with the rink as his playground and family home base, he eventually gravitated back to skating.
“I wasn’t forced into skating,” Malinin recalled. “My parents wanted me to find my passion. But growing up at the rink, I had nowhere else to be. Eventually, I thought, ‘Let me try the ice.’”
He decided to commit seriously to skating at age 12, recognizing his rapid progress.
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### Overcoming Injuries and Rising to the Top
Though talented, Malinin missed the 2020 and 2021 U.S. Championships due to injuries, raising questions about his durability.
“That was a concern,” he admitted. “But now I have a solid training plan to prevent injuries. It’s about strategically improving while protecting my body.”
His breakthrough came at the 2022 U.S. Championships in Nashville, where he landed four quads in the free skate and finished second overall. Although he was not named to the Olympic team, Malinin would later earn the gold at the World Junior Championships by breaking multiple world junior records.
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### Revolutionizing the Quad Axel
Canada’s Kurt Browning first landed a quadruple jump—the toe loop—in 1988. Nathan Chen pushed quads to new limits by landing five in a free skate at the 2022 Olympics. Yet the quadruple Axel remained elusive.
Many wondered if anyone would ever manage the quad Axel. In 2022, at the U.S. International Classic, Malinin stunned the world by landing the first quad Axel in competition.
“Four-and-a-half revolutions in the blink of an eye,” Weir marveled.
Malinin continued to push boundaries, landing quad Axels at Skate America, winning the Grand Prix event as the youngest male champion. He then stunned the figure skating world by landing all six types of quads in a single competition at the Grand Prix Final.
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### Shattering Records and Defying Comparisons
At the 2024 Grand Prix Final, Malinin scored a record 238.24 points in the free skate—far surpassing previous world records—with seven clean quads on the program.
He now owns the top three free skate scores of all time and three of the five highest total competition scores over 330 points.
Tarasova dismissed comparisons to legends Alexei Yagudin and Evgeni Plushenko, emphasizing that Malinin’s technical capabilities are unprecedented.
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### Looking Ahead: The Future of a Skating Legend
Malinin sees more progress ahead, aiming to compete for three or more Olympic cycles.
“I want to become the fullest skater I can be,” he said. “I’m playing it by ear with how I feel and my passion. Who knows? Maybe four or five Olympics.”
He hinted at attempting a quintuple jump in the future. “That will be determined after Milan,” he said with a smile.
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### A Story of Courage and Embracing Uncertainty
Ultimately, Malinin’s story is not just about technical mastery, but about courage—the willingness to explore the unknown, embrace struggle, and follow his own voice.
Bourne reflected, “Watching him perform, I get goosebumps. His programs are becoming more real and meaningful. He’s diving into the unconscious and finding the light within darkness. He’s not taking the easy road, but discovering his true self. You might not like his music or style, but he’s speaking his truth. And that is what matters.”
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As the Olympic Games approach in Milan, all eyes are on Ilia Malinin—a young man transforming figure skating through innovation, artistry, and an unflinching pursuit of authenticity.
“My reality now,” Malinin said with a grin, “is getting ready to compete in the Olympics and going for that gold.”
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*Published on [Date]*
*Tags: Ilia Malinin, Figure Skating, Quad Axel, Olympics, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Rafael Arutyunyan*
https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2026/01/05/winter-olympics-ilia-malinin-is-ready-to-tell-his-story/
