U.S. skater Ilia Malinin competes in the men’s singles short program in the figure skating team event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy. [Photo=Yonhap]
A figure skating backflip, long treated as taboo on the Olympic stage, returned after nearly 50 years when American Ilia Malinin landed one without penalty, drawing a loud reaction from the crowd.
Malinin completed the backflip late in his program in the men’s singles short program of the figure skating team event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, according to the report.
The backflip had been effectively barred for decades. After American Terry Kubicka first attempted it at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics, the International Skating Union banned the move starting the following year, citing athlete safety and injury risk. After that, skaters were assessed a two-point deduction whether or not they landed it.
At the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, France’s Surya Bonaly drew attention by attempting a backflip while accepting the deduction as a protest over judging. The report said Bonaly, then among the world’s top skaters, alleged discriminatory judging and left the Olympic stage after that performance.
With the sport placing more emphasis on expression and spectacle, the ISU lifted the backflip ban in 2024. Malinin became the first skater to land a backflip at the Olympics without a deduction since the rule change.
Malinin scored 98.00 points, combining technical and program components, to place second behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, who scored 108.67. The backflip itself did not earn a separate bonus.
Afterward, Malinin said, “The crowd cheered so loudly it was uncontrollable,” adding, “It was a moment when I felt the weight of the Olympic stage and gratitude.”
Malinin completed the backflip late in his program in the men’s singles short program of the figure skating team event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, according to the report.
The backflip had been effectively barred for decades. After American Terry Kubicka first attempted it at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics, the International Skating Union banned the move starting the following year, citing athlete safety and injury risk. After that, skaters were assessed a two-point deduction whether or not they landed it.
At the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, France’s Surya Bonaly drew attention by attempting a backflip while accepting the deduction as a protest over judging. The report said Bonaly, then among the world’s top skaters, alleged discriminatory judging and left the Olympic stage after that performance.
With the sport placing more emphasis on expression and spectacle, the ISU lifted the backflip ban in 2024. Malinin became the first skater to land a backflip at the Olympics without a deduction since the rule change.
Malinin scored 98.00 points, combining technical and program components, to place second behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, who scored 108.67. The backflip itself did not earn a separate bonus.
Afterward, Malinin said, “The crowd cheered so loudly it was uncontrollable,” adding, “It was a moment when I felt the weight of the Olympic stage and gratitude.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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