Ilia Malinin made history at the 2026 Winter Olympics by performing a backflip, a move that was banned for 50 years in figure skating because it was considered too dangerous. The North American skater, just 21 years old, became the first athlete to perform the jump cleanly, landing on a single blade, consolidating his status as a star in the sport.
The backflip only became legal again in 2024, after having been banned since 1976, when Terry Kubicka performed it in competition. Malinin had already surprised in the short program of the team event with a two-foot backflip, but it was in the free event, in Milan, that he raised the bar by performing the movement with one leg. Despite not counting towards the technical score, the moment was one of the most memorable in the competition.
With a score of 200.03 points in the men’s freestyle program, Malinin was decisive in putting the United States back in first place and securing the team’s second consecutive Olympic title, with a total of 69 points. Japan came second, with 68, and Italy won bronze.
The feat also drew attention off the ice. On the bench was Novak Djokovic, who was filmed reacting in disbelief, with his hands on his head. “I saw Djokovic there and it was surreal. They told me he was speechless after the backflip. It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments,” said Malinin.
