Why Is Ilia Malinin Nicknamed ‘Quad God’?

Why Ilia Malinin Is Known as the ‘Quad God’

Malinin is nicknamed the “Quad God” because of his extraordinary ability to execute quadruple jumps. He became the first skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, a feat achieved initially at the 2022 CS U.S. International Classic and repeated in major events since.

He also became the first skater to land seven quadruple jumps in a single free skate program at the 2025 Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, cementing his status as a pioneer in the discipline. 

The nickname started when Malinin changed his social media handle to “Quadg0d” after landing a quad jump early in his rise. He has explained that he gave himself the moniker, which originated from repeatedly landing difficult quads and embracing the identity as he continued pushing the sport’s boundaries.

His mastery of quads gives him a competitive edge because these jumps carry high base values under the sport’s scoring system. Landing multiple quads with consistency dramatically increases his scoring potential compared with other competitors who cannot match his technical content. 

Career Achievements and Rise to Stardom

Malinin’s career has been defined by technical breakthroughs and consistent excellence. Born on Dec. 2, 2004, in Fairfax, Virginia, he began skating at age six. Both of his parents were former Olympic figure skaters, and they coached him through his development. 

By 2025, Malinin had already won multiple U.S. Figure Skating Championships and back-to-back World Championships, establishing himself as the dominant force in men’s figure skating. He holds records for the world junior and senior scores in free skate and combined totals. His ability to land quads, including the historically difficult quad Axel, is unmatched. 

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Malinin enters as a gold medal favorite in the men’s singles competition on the strength of these accomplishments. Alongside his quad dominance, he incorporates elements like backflips and unique transitions that have become part of his signature style.

Malinin’s next competitions are in the men’s singles event. He will skate the short program on Tuesday at 1:45 pm ET, and the free skate on Friday, where medals will be decided. These events will determine whether Malinin can add individual Olympic gold to his team medal.

With Olympic gold already secured in the team event, Malinin remains the favorite for the men’s singles podium.