When the spotlight shone brightest at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, it wasn’t just Ilia Malinin’s dazzling jumps that captured the world’s imagination; it was the culmination of a family legacy built on decades of figure skating excellence.
At just 21 years old, the young American figure skater arrived at his first Olympic Games already regarded as one of the most technically gifted skaters in history. He is known around the world as the “Quad God” for his ability to land multiple quadruple jumps and being the first athlete ever to land a quadruple Axel in competition.
In Milan, the American didn’t just perform, he made history. In the figure skating team event, he delivered a pivotal free skate that clinched gold for the United States, scoring 200.02 points. He edged out Japan by a razor-thin margin to defend the Olympic team title.
His routine was unforgettable not only for its technical excellence in five quadruple jumps, including a quad flip and quad Salchow, but also for a legal backflip that landed on a single blade. He is the first one to perform this backflip under current Olympic rules in decades, which electrified the crowd and symbolized the evolution of the sport.
But Ilia Malinin’s Olympic story is also a family story, which is rooted in generations of skaters, coaches, and supporters who shaped his journey from the rinks of Virginia to the Olympic podium.
Who Is Ilia Malinin’s Grandfather?
At the foundation of Malinin’s skating story stands his maternal grandfather, Valery Malinin. He is the man who first planted the family’s roots in figure skating.
He was a competitive skater in the Soviet Union during the 1960s and 1970s, training in an era when Soviet skating programs were among the most demanding and respected in the world. After his competitive career ended, he turned to coaching and has an experience of more than 50 years in this role.
Working in Novosibirsk, Russia, he became known for his disciplined approach and attention to detail. It was Valery who introduced his young daughter, Tatiana Malinin, to the ice and personally guided her early development.
Ilia Malinin has often spoken about how his grandfather’s old-school mentality shaped the way he trains. The emphasis on jump technique, body control, and relentless practice can be traced directly back to Valery’s methods.
Who Is Ilia Malinin’s Mother?
Malinin’s mother, Tatiana Malinina, was among the most accomplished women’s singles skaters of the late 1990s. She was the first figure skater from Uzbekistan to claim an international title, winning two Grand Prix Championships. She became the 1999 Grand Prix Final champion, besting some of the best skaters. In addition to this, she won 10 more titles for her country.
She entered into the Olympic stage by making her debut at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, where she ended up in the eighth place. Her next appearance was expected to be at the 2002 Winter Olympics; however, she had to pull out from the same due to illness.
Proving her billing in the sport, she has clinched the title of Uzbek National Champion 10 times and is also a bronze medalist at the 1999 Cup of Russia.
His mother retired in 2002 and then transitioned seamlessly into coaching.
Who Is Ilia Malinin’s Father?
Malinin’s father, Roman Skorniakov, enjoyed an equally impressive competitive career. He was born in Russia and later represented Uzbekistan on the international stage and became the country’s dominant men’s singles skater for nearly a decade.
He has claimed multiple accomplishments in his career, including being a competitor at the 1998 Nagano and 2022 Winter Olympics. Skorniakov also became a seven-time Uzbek National Champion and also consistently competed in the ISU Grand Prix circuit.
Following his competitive days, he married Tatiana and settled in Virginia, and they started coaching together. They were Ilia’s primary coaches as soon as he stepped on the ice at the age of six.
About Ilia Malinin’s Sister
The Malinin dynasty is far from over, as Ilia Malinin’s younger sister, Elli Beatrice ‘Liza’ Beatrice, born in 2014, is already following the family path. Training under the same family coaching team, Liza has quickly emerged as one of the most promising young skaters in her age group.
Despite being only in her teens, she has already competed successfully in regional and national-level US Figure Skating competitions. She has also secured several podium finishes at juvenile and intermediate levels.
While she is still at the beginning of her journey, expectations are high that Liza could follow her brother onto the international stage in the coming years, potentially continuing the Malinin name in US figure skating for another generation.
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