Ilia Malinin's Olympic backflip made history. But he's not the first to do it
toggle caption Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Europe
Want more Olympics updates? Subscribe here to get our newsletter, Rachel Goes to the Games, delivered to your inbox for a behind-the-scenes look at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
MILAN, Italy - Ilia Malinin's skyward jumps have earned him the nickname the "Quad God," but it's his backflip that everyone seems to be talking about.
The U.S. figure skater performed the move in his first two programs on Olympic ice, landing the latter on a single blade and sending the arena into a frenzy.
"It's honestly such an incredible roar-feeling in the environment β once I do that backflip everyone is
Continue Reading on NPR
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.