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Earning a title containing the word “god” signifies a major accomplishment. This is certainly true for Team USA Olympic figure skater Ilia Malinin, recognized worldwide as the “Quad God” due to his aptitude for executing the remarkably challenging quadruple axel jump—and not just a single one, but multiple quadruple jumps.
“For sure, a greater number of individuals recognize me as ‘Quad God’ rather than by my actual name,” Ilia mentioned in February 2026, according to Forbes. “At times, it’s advantageous because having your own moniker can make you more noticeable to the audience.”
Hollywood Life shares five interesting facts about Ilia that you should know.
Ilia Malinin Is From Virginia
This figure skater hails from Virginia! Ilia was born in Fairfax and spent his childhood in Vienna, his hometown. He comes from a lineage of figure skaters: his mother, Tatiana Malinina, an Olympic skater representing Uzbekistan and the 1999 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final champion, and his father, Roman Skorniakov, also an Olympic skater who represented Uzbekistan.
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Ilia Malinin Is 21 Years Old
Born on December 2, 2004, Ilia is currently 21 years of age at the time of this article.
Ilia Malinin Is the First Skater to Land a Quadruple Axel in International Competition
Ilia definitively cemented his status as a quad master at the 2022 CS U.S. International Classic. He holds the distinction of being the first and only skater to successfully execute a quadruple axel in an international contest.
After gaining the “Quad God” title, Ilia incorporated it into his Instagram username. As he mentioned, most people “know me for ‘Quad God’ rather than necessarily my name,” according to Forbes.
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Ilia Malinin Began Skating When He was 6 Years Old
At the tender age of 6, Ilia embarked on his skating journey, guided by his parents, both accomplished skaters. He also showed interest in soccer but eventually dedicated himself to ice skating.
Ilia Malinin Wants to Be a ‘Global Celebrity’
Despite his recognition as a proficient figure skater, Ilia has contemplated avenues beyond the ice. While training for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, Ilia shared his fascination with film production.
“One of my objectives is undoubtedly—and this is tied to skating—to achieve global celebrity status,” Ilia revealed to Forbes in February 2026. “Similar to how The Rock [Dwayne Johnson] gained fame through wrestling and subsequently transitioned into acting, seizing diverse opportunities, my vision aligns with that trajectory.”
Dwayne, formerly a professional wrestler, has risen to become a highly successful Hollywood actor.