Everyone knew it was coming.
But yet when it happened — when American figure skater Ilia Malinin effortlessly landed the first backflip at the Winter Games since 1998 — the crowd’s loud cheers rivaled that of his music blaring from the Milano Ice Skating Arena speakers.
How’s that for an Olympic debut?
By the end of his short program, as part of the team event, Malinin was out of breath and stuck out his tongue.
He made history with that flip and knew it.
Ilia Malinin of the United States performs a back flip during his routine in the Figure Skating, Team Event, Men’s Single Skating – Short Program routine at the Milano Ice Skating Arena at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games 2026 on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Getty Images
“It was fun,” Malinin told reporters after his program. “I mean, come on, the audience just roared and they were just out of control. Really that just helped me feel the gratitude of the Olympic stage.”
The 21-year-old, dubbed the “Quad God,” finished with a score of 98.00 for second place behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama who received a score of 108.67.
Despite the stunning upset, Team USA still remains in the top spot of the team competition with 34 points after Malinin’s performance, though Kagiyama’s first-place finish pulled Japan within one point of the Americans.
Meanwhile, Italy is currently in third with 28 points.
Malinin’s backflip has been a staple in his routine leading up to the Winter Games, but performing it on the biggest international stage was a sight to behold.
Malinin is the first skater to legally pull off a backflip at the Winter Olympics since American skater Terry Kubicka did it at the 1976 Games in Innsbruck, Austria.
The International Skating Union banned the skill the next year, deeming it too dangerous.
Ilia Malinin of Team United States competes in Men’s Single Skating – Short Program on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Getty Images
French skater Surya Bonaly executed a backflip at the 1998 Winter Olympics and landed on one blade, but she received a deduction because the move was illegal.
In 2024, the ISU legalized the backflip, which led to Malinin’s big moment Saturday.
Malinin entered his first Olympics as a favorite to win multiple gold medals.
He’s dominated the international stage in recent years and won back-to-back world championships.
Malinin has been lauded for his ability to seemingly defy physics.
He’s earned his “Quad God” nickname for how effortlessly he makes four revolutions in the air look.
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
Malinin is the only skater to ever perform a quad Axel, which is technically 4 ½ rotations, and he’s been doing so since 2022.
With Team USA a shoo-in to qualify for the team event finals, Malinin took the quad Axel out of his routine and instead replaced it with a quad flip.
Malinin reminded everyone he’s human in Saturday’s showing as he under-rotated his quad Lutz and got a deduction for his flying sit spin.
Still, Malinin is widely considered the most anticipated figure skater competing at this year’s Winter Games.
Malinin is slated to compete in the men’s single skating short program and free skate events next week.
