US figure skater Ilia Malinin lands first-in-competition quadruple axel

September 15, 2022 7:47 AM

The US International Classic "Senior B" competition makes figure-skating history. Axels are the most difficult figure-skating jump because alone among jumps, they take off from a forward position, meaning an extra half-revolution before landing.

The phenomenal Yuzuru Hanyu attempted a quad axel in his Olympics long program earlier this year, but did not succeed in landing it (and I am seeing reports that the more worrisome among his "fanyus" are very upset at Malinin's feat, and making messes on Malinin's Instagram and elsewhere).

Here's Malinin's jump in slo-mo, from the figure skating subreddit. This makes it easier to count revolutions and (for those so inclined) watch his feet to see that the jump was in fact fully rotated, or near enough as makes no odds.

Judges' score breakdowns for the entire men's event. Not only did the judges ratify the jump -- that is, agree that it was a fully-rotated quad axel -- they handed Malinin a small grade-of-execution bonus.

The US International Classic is a so-called "Senior B" event, sort of a warm-up for the much higher-stakes Grand Prix series. It's interesting strategy for Malinin to take risks in such a lower-stakes setting -- history is history, but it's the very start of the season and an injury would be devastating. His apparent confidence going into the jump suggests we'll see it again, though!

posted by humbug (10 comments total)

Kevin Aymoz of France took the event silver behind Malinin, on the strength of a terrific short program. Bronze went to the US's Camden Pulkinen, who gutted out his long program despite errors -- quite a step forward for him, as he has a not-unearned reputation for letting programs fall apart after a jump error.

Italy's Daniel Grassl, also favored for a medal, hit the boards hard near the start of his long program, and had to withdraw. I hope he's okay.
posted by humbug at 7:54 AM on September 15, 2022

Remember that the axel has an extra half rotation, so a double is two and a half. So pushing 5 turns in less than a second. Just incredible.
posted by sammyo at 8:02 AM on September 15, 2022 [2 favorites]

I can barely follow his turns in slow motion. Watching his head whip around was the only way I could count it and yeah, 4.5. Jesus.
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:13 AM on September 15, 2022 [2 favorites]

The comments on the reddit video are adorable. Thanks for posting this.
posted by medusa at 8:46 AM on September 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

and I am seeing reports that the more worrisome among his "fanyus" are very upset at Malinin's feat, and making messes on Malinin's Instagram and elsewhere

My friend is no joke writing ummm fanfiction where one character is a figure skater, and part of the plot so far is about this character receiving a ton of online harassment from a rival skater's fans after being the first person to land a quadruple jump in competition.

So this is sadly predictable... stay classy, figure skating fans!
posted by subdee at 8:51 AM on September 15, 2022 [2 favorites]

Figure-skating fans can be characters, all right (and I am a fan, so I get to say it). Even for fans, though, the fanyuest of the fanyus are beyond extra.

The figure-skating subreddit is usually wholesome-ish. Like any subreddit, it's got its third rails. (I recommend staying out of ice-dance scoring debates.) But yes, this particular post was just a lot of skaters and fans going WOW, HE DID THAT.
posted by humbug at 9:09 AM on September 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

This is just amazing. I've been a part of adult skating for about 5 years, and I've watched skaters who are waaayyyy stronger than me try to master a single axel for basically that entire time. I don't know anyone who's successfully gotten it yet, but they keep trying.

Also time for your periodic reminder that the Olympics team skating medals have still not been awarded after the Russian mishegos, so let's pour one out for skaters who trained like mad, competed at their very best, and are still in limbo. Some are competing again this season, others have retired.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:58 AM on September 15, 2022 [4 favorites]

"It nonetheless sent shockwaves through the sport as the final and most difficult of the quadruple jumps had finally been conquered."

I mean, haven't we said this about every axel so far? Triples seemed like a bridge too far 45 years ago.
posted by yellowcandy at 11:36 AM on September 15, 2022 [2 favorites]

I think it means final in the sense that it’s the final quad jump as all the other quad jumps are done.

Now we’ll be onto the quints and it will likely be the final quint as well!
posted by Tandem Affinity at 7:52 PM on September 15, 2022 [3 favorites]

nice toe pick
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:33 PM on September 16, 2022 [1 favorite]