Known as the “Quad God”, Ilia Malinin makes history at the 2025 December Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final by being the first figure skater to land 7 Quads in a single free skate program. While he was at it, he also set a world record with a score of 238.24 points.
From December 4 to 7, 2025, the Grand Prix Final was held in Nagoya, Japan. Other male podium finishers like Kagiyama Yuma (silver) and Sato Shun (bronze), attempted three quads each. Ilia Malinin (gold), choosing difficulty over safety, included several elements, including multiple loops, toe loops, salchows, a quad lutz, and a rare quad axel. The difference between these jumps depends on the take-off, with some reaching up to 4.5 rotations. Loops are edge jumps that take off from a back outside edge, landing on the same foot. Toe loops are the easiest jumps; the skater taps their toe pick to jump while rotating backward. A salchow is an edge jump where the skater swings one leg forward to generate power, allowing them to launch from a back inside edge. Quad Lutz consists of completing 4 full revolutions in the air after taking off from a backward outside edge with a toe-pick assist, making it one of the hardest jumps. Lastly, a quad axel is the most difficult jump in figure skating; it requires the skater to complete 4.5 revolutions in the air and is unique because it starts forward, requiring an extra half-rotation compared to other quadruple jumps.
This also marks his third consecutive title at the Grand Prix Finals. However, all of this wouldn’t have been possible without his precise training. Every day in training, Ilia runs through a 7-quad free program, along with other elements, weight-skating for strength, and mental preparation. Ilia also mentions that he looks up to the figure skating legends Yuzuru Hanyu and Nathan Chen.
Along with this, he likes to include his signature move, which he named the ‘Raspberry Twist’. This move requires the skater to set the right foot, pivot on the right toe, and continue on the LBI (left backward side) edge for ½ of a rotation, then finish the first half rotation on the left toe. After this, he takes off from the left toe while the right leg kicks back and moves up. This allows him to propel into the air, pushing him into a lateral position almost parallel to the ice. He does this for about 1 ½ rotations.
He tells Olympics.com, “I think that’s something that everyone forgets when we’re out on the ice and performing for an audience: They think we’re robots or animatronics.” At the 2024 Grand Prix Final, Ilia attempted the same 7 quads but unfortunately failed, continuing his momentum and motivation for the next competition.
“No matter what I’m doing…I am always thinking of being creative and to keep myself in a mindset of always trying to do things either differently, or always trying to level myself up creatively.” Now that he has achieved his goal, Ilia plans to attempt the world’s first quintuple jump at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, growing in confidence to take on the ice.
