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Jonathan Vigliotti: Quad God. Where did that nickname come from?
Ilia Malinin: I landed my first quad — a quad Salchow — when I was 13 or 14 and needed an Instagram handle. Quad God was available, so I took it. At first it was just a name, but once people noticed I felt like I should try to live up to it. That pushed me to keep adding quads until it wasn’t just a username but something I actually earned.
Jonathan Vigliotti: Your reputation centers on jumps, yet your programs have a lot of artistry. How important is that balance?
Ilia Malinin: Early on everyone called me the jumper, and that kind of annoyed me. You can’t win with jumps alone. To be complete you need choreography, musicality, creativity, mental toughness and physical strength. It’s easy for non-fans to underestimate how many elements have to come together to make a program look effortless.
Jonathan Vigliotti: Your parents are Olympians. What was it like growing up with them?
Ilia Malinin: Ironically, they didn’t want me to skate. After years of sacrifice they said, ‘We don’t want another skater in the family,’ but my sister and I still ended up on the ice. My mom is the strict one — she’s the ‘bad cop’ who pushes hard and keeps me accountable. My dad is more relaxed. They don’t dwell on their own careers; they focus on supporting me now.
Jonathan Vigliotti: Which parent is the tougher coach?
Ilia Malinin: My mom. She’s the one who won’t let me be lazy; she’s always on me to work. My dad keeps things more laid-back.
Jonathan Vigliotti: You mentioned the quad Axel. Was that ever a cautious conversation at home, or were you determined from the start?
Ilia Malinin: At first I said it as a joke — ‘I want to try the quad Axel’ — and they laughed. But then they saw I was serious and training at 100 percent. I told them I’d fully commit. Doing something like that half-heartedly isn’t an option.
Jonathan Vigliotti: Technically, how do you even pull off a quad Axel?
Ilia Malinin: It’s pure physics. You need explosive power and speed to get the height and the torque for four-and-a-half rotations, all on one leg. On landing your body absorbs enormous force — multiple times your body weight. Numbers like two-and-a-half feet of height get tossed around, but perception changes when you’re actually moving. Everything is about force, rotation and precision on a tiny blade: a millimeter mistake and it all falls apart.
Jonathan Vigliotti: What does it feel like while you’re in the air?
Ilia Malinin: It’s a blur. The whole thing takes less than a second. When I first landed it I remember being surprised — ‘I just did that’ — but now with repetition it becomes muscle memory. The more you do it the more consistent it gets.
Jonathan Vigliotti: You’ve also mentioned quints. Is a quint Axel realistic?
Ilia Malinin: I believe it’s possible, but it would require enormous mental and physical preparation and total commitment. In skating you can’t half-commit. It’s like a backflip — if you bail mid-air you can seriously hurt yourself.
Jonathan Vigliotti: You came up fast. In 2022 you finished second at Nationals and didn’t make the Olympic team. How did that affect you?
Ilia Malinin: That moment was pivotal. If things had gone differently I might not be where I am now. Missing that opportunity lit a fire under me. It pushed me to refine my skating and chase higher goals, and I don’t think I’d be trying to push technical boundaries without it.
Jonathan Vigliotti: Is proving people wrong part of your drive?
Ilia Malinin: Absolutely. If someone doubts me, that motivates me to show them they’re wrong. It’s who I am — I want to own it and improve.
Jonathan Vigliotti: Why does Olympic skating feel special?
Ilia Malinin: Skating speaks to different audiences at once. Some people watch for the athletic power and speed; others watch for choreography, emotion and creativity. The challenge is that you must perform extremely difficult technical elements while also delivering art, in front of massive crowds or cameras, under scoring pressure. It’s uniquely demanding.
Jonathan Vigliotti: How do you handle the crowd and nerves?
Ilia Malinin: The crowd works both ways: a program moves them, and their reaction fuels you. When you’re tired mid-program and the crowd starts cheering, it gives you that extra push to finish strong. Nerves are always there, but once the music starts you move into autopilot — muscle memory takes over. Experience changes your approach. A few years ago I’d say I ‘winged it’ more; now it’s a deeper, more controlled process.
Jonathan Vigliotti: Your Quad God persona set expectations. How do you balance the technical chase with artistry?
Ilia Malinin: The nickname set a technical bar that I wanted to reach, but to be competitive you have to be more than a jumper. I worked on choreography, musicality and performance — the whole package. To win at the highest level you need both the technical difficulty and the emotional, creative side.
Jonathan Vigliotti: What do you hope the Olympic experience will be like?
Ilia Malinin: I’ve heard athletes say the Olympics are fun: seeing new places, competing on a huge stage, meeting people from other sports. I’m looking forward to learning how others train and eat, connecting with athletes from different disciplines and building support across sports. It’s bigger than one event — it’s a chance to grow and learn.
[TRUMPET FLOURISH]