What are the potential long-term implications or future outlook for "quad god"?
Ilia Malinin's "Quad God" status redefines figure skating by establishing the quad axel as a new technical benchmark, pressuring ISU scoring and training.
Sylvie Vance
The potential long-term implications of the "Quad God," figure skater Ilia Malinin, center on the complete redefinition of technical difficulty in men's figure skating, fundamentally raising the performance ceiling of the sport and forcing an immediate evolution in both judging and training protocols. The successful execution of the quadruple axel jump by Malinin has created an entirely new technical benchmark in the sport, pushing what was once considered the limit of human performance (https://www.sportingnews.com/us/figure-skating/news/quad-god-ilia-malinin-has-created-a-figure-skating-problem-quad-axel-raspberry-twist/953d6fd9714d8bccfa00f1a0). This achievement suggests a future where the quad axel becomes a required, rather than optional, element for elite competitors vying for gold, transforming the landscape of the sport for the next quadrennial and beyond.
### How does the successful execution of the Quad Axel fundamentally change the International Skating Union (ISU) judging criteria and technical scoring?
The introduction of a successful quad axel—a jump requiring $4.5$ rotations—has a profound, immediate effect on the International Skating Union’s (ISU) judging system, specifically the Base Value (BV) assigned to elements. While the exact long-term adjustments are ongoing, the successful landing by Malinin validates the highest possible difficulty level, which subsequently pressures the ISU to ensure its scoring system adequately rewards such revolutionary technical content without discouraging a necessary balance in the program (https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2026-02-07/olympics-star-ilia-malinin-might-revolutionize-figure-skating). The implication is that the Technical Panel must now account for a new standard of difficulty, likely leading to adjustments in the base values of other quadruple jumps or a potential inflation of required technical content in free skates. If the quad axel becomes standardized, the competitive advantage shifts from simply including multiple quads to consistently landing the quad axel alongside a suite of other high-value jumps.
### What impact does this new technical ceiling have on the development pipeline and training strategies for the next generation of elite male skaters?
The "Quad God" effect mandates a significant, potentially disruptive, shift in the development pipeline for aspiring elite male figure skaters. Skaters coming up now are watching Malinin, the only skater to successfully execute this jump in competition, making the quad axel a foundational expectation rather than a distant aspiration (https://www.vox.com/culture/478223/ilia-malinin-2026-olympics-quad-axel-gold-medal-favorite). Training strategies must now incorporate specialized techniques necessary to safely and consistently master this jump at a younger age. Experts note that the presence of generational talents like Malinin, following predecessors like Nathan Chen, highlights an anomaly that US Figure Skating aims to cultivate, suggesting focused investment in programs designed to develop similar technical mastery earlier in an athlete's career (https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2026-02-07/olympics-star-ilia-malinin-might-revolutionize-figure-skating). The long-term outlook suggests greater physical specialization among young skaters focused predominantly on mastering these high-revolutions jumps.
### Beyond technical difficulty, how does the "Quad God" era influence the perception and valuation of artistry and program components in elite figure skating?
A critical long-term implication revolves around the balance between technical prowess and artistic merit, often measured through Program Component Scores (PCS). When one athlete (Malinin) possesses a historically dominant technical element—the quad axel—it risks creating a "technical tax," where judges may unconsciously allow for slight dips in artistry simply to keep pace with the sheer difficulty performed. However, those who coach champions note that elite skaters like Malinin aim to be known for more than just one element (https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2026-02-07/olympics-star-ilia-malinin-might-revolutionize-figure-skating). The future outlook suggests that the next generation must integrate the quad axel seamlessly within a program that also scores highly in interpretation and performance. If artistry scores stagnate while technical scores skyrocket due to the axel, the sport risks becoming overwhelmingly focused on rotation count, prompting future debates on how to properly weight components like skating skills and choreography.
## Key Takeaways: Navigating the Quad Axel Era
The emergence of the "Quad God" and the successful quad axel marks a major technological epoch in figure skating, resulting in several key shifts:
* **New Technical Standard:** The quad axel is quickly transitioning from a singular achievement to a necessary component for securing major titles, raising the minimum requirement for competitive parity.
* **Scoring System Pressure:** The ISU faces continuous pressure to adjust Base Values to accurately reflect and reward this unprecedented level of difficulty without creating an unachievable barrier for all but a few athletes.
* **Pipeline Restructuring:** Development programs must now prioritize the early acquisition of complex rotational skills, potentially altering the trajectory of skater development.
* **Artistry Under Scrutiny:** The high-difficulty jump requires artists to integrate these elements flawlessly, ensuring that superior technical performance does not overshadow the required interpretive elements of the sport.
The future outlook is a highly technical discipline where physical limits are constantly being tested. The ultimate long-term implication will be whether the sport can integrate these revolutionary physical feats while preserving the delicate, celebrated marriage of athleticism and performance art.
## Conclusion
Ilia Malinin’s status as the "Quad God" signifies more than just a new champion; it represents a fundamental technological discontinuity in men's figure skating. The long-term implications point toward an era defined by radical technical ambition, where the quad axel becomes the baseline, and judging criteria must evolve swiftly to maintain competitive integrity. The ultimate challenge for the sport will be managing this elevated technical ceiling—ensuring that the pursuit of more rotations does not eclipse the beauty and artistry that first captivated audiences, leaving skaters to master both physics and poetry simultaneously.
## References
* https://www.sportingnews.com/us/figure-skating/news/quad-god-ilia-malinin-has-created-a-figure-skating-problem-quad-axel-raspberry-twist/953d6fd9714d8bccfa00f1a0
* https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2026-02-07/olympics-star-ilia-malinin-might-revolutionize-figure-skating
* https://www.vox.com/culture/478223/ilia-malinin-2026-olympics-quad-axel-gold-medal-favorite/