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Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin is an American figure skater known for his technical difficulty in men’s singles.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Ilia Malinin is an American figure skater known for his technical difficulty in men’s singles. He is a three-time World champion (2024, 2025, 2026), a four-time U.S. champion (2023–2026), and the first skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition.

Career

Malinin rose to prominence after winning the World Junior title in 2022 and the U.S. title in 2023. He then became a dominant senior competitor, adding World Championship, Grand Prix Final, and national titles.

Technical milestones

He is widely known for pushing the technical limits of men’s skating. His landmark achievement is the first fully rotated quadruple Axel landed in competition, and he has also completed programs containing multiple quadruple jumps.

Major championships

Malinin won world titles in 2024, 2025, and 2026, and national titles from 2023 through 2026. He also earned Olympic team-event gold in 2026.

Background

Malinin was born in Fairfax, Virginia, and is the son of former competitive figure skaters Tatyana Malinina and Roman Skornyakov. He is associated with the American figure skating training system and competes for Team USA.

Key facts

  • Competes for the United States in men’s singles figure skating.
  • Won the World Championship in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
  • Won the U.S. national title in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
  • Was the first skater to successfully land a quadruple Axel in competition.
  • Won the 2026 Olympic Games team event gold medal.
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Canadian context

Malinin is relevant to Canadian readers through international figure skating competition, including World Championships and Grand Prix events often followed in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ilia Malinin?
Ilia Malinin is an American men’s singles figure skater and one of the most technically difficult skaters in the sport.
What is Ilia Malinin known for?
He is known for being the first skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition and for winning major senior titles.
How many World titles has he won?
He has won three World Championships, in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
How many U.S. titles has he won?
He has won four U.S. national titles, from 2023 through 2026.
Has Ilia Malinin competed in the Olympics?
Yes. He won gold in the 2026 Olympic Games team event.
Who are Ilia Malinin’s parents?
His parents are former figure skaters Tatyana Malinina and Roman Skornyakov.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilia_Malinin
    Supports: Birth date; American figure skater; World, Grand Prix Final, and U.S. title counts.
  2. International Skating Union — https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/ilia-malinin/
    Supports: Olympic team gold; first quadruple Axel in competition; seven quads in one program; ISU awards.
  3. Team USA — https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/ilia-malinin
    Supports: Nationality; hometown; discipline; family background; Olympic result.
  4. Stars on Ice — https://www.starsonice.com/skaters/ilia-malinin
    Supports: World titles; U.S. titles; Grand Prix Final titles; World Junior title; quad Axel milestone.
  5. NBC Olympics — https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/ilia-malinin-meet-athlete
    Supports: World titles; debut and progression; quad Axel record.