American skater Malinin lands first quad axel in competition
Source: Associated Press
American skater Malinin lands first quad axel in competition
By DAVE SKRETTA
September 16, 2022
Ilia Malinin made history late Wednesday when the 17-year-old wunderkind, and the heir apparent to Olympic champion Nathan Chen among American figure skaters, successfully landed the first quad axel in competition.
Malinin pulled off the four-and-a-half revolution jump while winning the lower-level U.S. Classic in Lake Placid, New York, before a small crowd in a mostly empty arena. It nonetheless sent shockwaves through the sport as the final and most difficult of the quadruple jumps had finally been conquered.
“It felt really good. When I’m practicing it, it’s pretty easy for me to figure out how to get the right timing and everything to have it be a good attempt,” said Malinin, whose supreme confidence in his jumping ability is evidenced by use of “quadg0d” on his social media platforms. ”To do it in competition is a different story because you have nerves and pressure that can get in the way of that. So I have to treat it like I’m at home and it feels pretty good.”
Chen, who for now has stepped away from the sport following his triumph at the Beijing Olympics, has toyed with the jump in practice. And two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu was unsuccessful in trying to land it at the Winter Games.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/sports-social-media-figure-skating-nathan-chen-a993181ba82a95b495c0b273d6f1de33
FILE - Ilia Malinin, of the United States, competes during the men's free skating program at the International Skating Union Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Las Vegas. Ilia Malinin made history late Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, when the 17-year-old wunderkind, and the heir apparent to Olympic champion Nathan Chen among American figure skaters, successfully landed the first quad axel in competition. Malinin pulled off the four-and-a-half revolution jump while winning the lower-level U.S. Classic in Lake Placid, New York, before a small crowd in a mostly empty arena. (AP Photo/David Becker, File)
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