Ilia Malinin (born December 2, 2004) is the 2026 Olympic champion, three-time World champion, and four-time U.S. champion — the most dominant male figure skater of his generation. Born in Washington, D.C., he trains with coaches Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skornyakov, and competes for the Washington Figure Skating Club. His father, Roman Malinin, and mother, Tatiana Malinina, were both accomplished skaters in their own right, making Ilia the product of a true skating family.

Malinin became the first skater in history to land a ratified quadruple axel in competition, a feat he accomplished at the 2022 CS Challenger Series — a moment that immediately rewrote what was thought physically possible in the sport. He went on to claim his first World title in 2023 and has not relinquished it since, adding consecutive championship gold medals and cementing a dynasty that rivals the greatest in the history of men's skating.

At the 2026 Milan Olympics, Malinin delivered perhaps the most complete performance of his career, claiming the individual gold medal and leading Team USA to the team event title. His ability to combine maximum technical difficulty with genuine artistry and competitive composure sets him apart not just in his era but in the entire history of the discipline.

Malinin became the first skater in history to land a quadruple Axel in competition in September 2022, and holds the world record total score of 333.81. He won back-to-back World Championships in 2024 and 2025, and entered the 2026 Milan Olympics as the overwhelming favorite for gold. However, two falls in the free skate dropped him to eighth place in one of the sport's most shocking upsets. He rebounded at the 2026 World Championships in Prague, posting a personal-best 111.29 in the short program.