Vienna Figure Skater Completes First Quadruple Axel At World Championship

VIENNA, VA — Vienna senior Ilia Malinin, who made history in figure skating competition, once again proved why he is the self-proclaimed "Quadg0d."

Malinin, an 18-year-old Marshall High School senior, took the spotlight by becoming the first and only skater in history to complete a quadruple axel at the U.S. International Classic in fall 2022. At the World Figure Skating Championships in Japan this past weekend, he became the first in that competition to finish a quadruple axel.

He earned a third-place medal, making it the first time he received a medal at the world championships. He tried five other quads but received deductions from his score on two quad attempts, according to the Washington Post.

But a bright future is anticipated for the figure skating star, who was the men's national winner in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in January. Malinin will work to make the U.S. team in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics after not being selected for the 2022 Beijing Olypmics team despite finishing second at the 2022 national championship.

Malinin began figure skating in 2010 under the guidance of his Olympic skater parents, who both competed for Uzbekistan. He started competing in 2015 and has won championships along the way. Malinin is affiliated with the Washington Figure Skating Club and trains in Reston.

Malinin is also a Marshall High School senior who will graduate in 2023. He has built a social media following among his Fairfax County high school peers and was recently honored by the county's Board of Supervisors.