Figure Skaters at the 2026 Winter Olympics Are Pushing the Limits of What's Possible
For years, quad axel jumps seemed impossible. Then Ilia Malinin landed one in 2022, sending shockwaves through the figure skating community. Now, as he prepares to compete in the Milano Cortina Games, everyone wants to know what's next.
Russian figure skating coach Alexei Mishin had famously said that no skater would ever land a quad axel, calling it "impossible" just two years ago. Yet, Malinin's achievement has opened up new possibilities for the sport. The American phenom is not only dominating men's singles but also pushing the limits of what's possible in figure skating.
The next logical step is to attempt a quint, a five-revolution jump that would cement Malinin's status as a generational talent. While some sports scientists claim it's impossible due to speed and amplitude constraints, others argue that with improved training practices and conditioning, a quint might be achievable.
Malinin himself believes that he can land a quint, saying "I do believe it's possible." His technique is already efficient, allowing him to reach high rotational velocities. While it's unlikely that he'll attempt the jump in his program for the 2026 Winter Olympics, his confidence and abilities make him the favorite to succeed.
The quint would mark a significant milestone in figure skating history, building on decades of development in training practices, judging systems, and jumps themselves. The current International Skating Union (ISU) rules favor neither jump equally, but with Malinin's mastery of quads, he could potentially overcome this hurdle.
While replicability is crucial for the sport to progress, younger skaters like Rio Nakata are already inspired by Malinin's achievements. The Welsh-Japanese junior skater has studied Malinin's quad axel closely and feels confident that he can master it too.
As figure skating continues to evolve, Malinin's push for a quint will be a defining moment in the sport's history. Will he succeed in making it happen? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – Ilia Malinin is already rewriting the rules of what's possible in figure skating.
For years, quad axel jumps seemed impossible. Then Ilia Malinin landed one in 2022, sending shockwaves through the figure skating community. Now, as he prepares to compete in the Milano Cortina Games, everyone wants to know what's next.
Russian figure skating coach Alexei Mishin had famously said that no skater would ever land a quad axel, calling it "impossible" just two years ago. Yet, Malinin's achievement has opened up new possibilities for the sport. The American phenom is not only dominating men's singles but also pushing the limits of what's possible in figure skating.
The next logical step is to attempt a quint, a five-revolution jump that would cement Malinin's status as a generational talent. While some sports scientists claim it's impossible due to speed and amplitude constraints, others argue that with improved training practices and conditioning, a quint might be achievable.
Malinin himself believes that he can land a quint, saying "I do believe it's possible." His technique is already efficient, allowing him to reach high rotational velocities. While it's unlikely that he'll attempt the jump in his program for the 2026 Winter Olympics, his confidence and abilities make him the favorite to succeed.
The quint would mark a significant milestone in figure skating history, building on decades of development in training practices, judging systems, and jumps themselves. The current International Skating Union (ISU) rules favor neither jump equally, but with Malinin's mastery of quads, he could potentially overcome this hurdle.
While replicability is crucial for the sport to progress, younger skaters like Rio Nakata are already inspired by Malinin's achievements. The Welsh-Japanese junior skater has studied Malinin's quad axel closely and feels confident that he can master it too.
As figure skating continues to evolve, Malinin's push for a quint will be a defining moment in the sport's history. Will he succeed in making it happen? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – Ilia Malinin is already rewriting the rules of what's possible in figure skating.
I mean, can you even imagine if someone lands a quint at the Olympics?! 
It'd be like something out of a movie! The tech and training required would be insane... I'm not saying it's impossible, but I think Ilia Malinin is pushing the limits too far right now. Like, he just landed that quad axel and people thought it was crazy enough... what's next?! 
But seriously, if anyone can do it, it's him. He's been training his whole life and has the skills to back it up. Bring on the quint! 
if Ilia Malinin can make this quint jump a reality, it'll be like he's not just pushing the limits of his own sport, but also what we think is humanly possible period 
He's already shown us that with dedication and hard work, we can achieve seemingly impossible feats. The question is, what else is waiting for us over the horizon? Is it a matter of science vs art in sports? Do we need to redefine our understanding of speed and amplitude before we can move forward? 
It's going to be fascinating to watch how they progress - and when Malinin finally decides to give it a shot (which I'm guessing will be sooner rather than later). The sport needs moments like this to keep everyone on the edge of their seats! 
. I mean, a quint would be insane! Alexei Mishin saying it was impossible just two years ago was like predicting the future 
. And now Ilia Malinin believes he can land one? That's confidence for you 
. The fact that sports scientists are already questioning whether it's possible due to speed and amplitude constraints shows how far figure skating has come in terms of technology and training practices 
. One thing's for sure: if Malinin can make it happen, the sport will be forever changed 
.
. And can we talk about how inspired younger skaters like Rio Nakata are? It's all thanks to Malinin breaking the mold and pushing boundaries 
. We're living in a golden age of figure skating and I couldn't be more hyped!
its defo gonna b a historic moment 4 figure skating, esp wif rio nakata & other young skaters lookin up 2 him 
!