Ilia Malinin, the American figure skater renowned for his extraordinary quadruple jumps, is creating a stir with his ability to seamlessly integrate the once-banned backflip into competitive programs. The International Skating Union lifted the restriction on "somersault type jumps" after last season, leading to their resurgence in competitions. Malinin showcased this skill last month at the Lombardia Trophy, a lower-level competition. Will the 19-year-old keep incorporating it as the stakes get higher? "I'm definitely planning to keep it," he says.
The six-event Grand Prix season kicks off with Skate America in Allen, Texas, Friday and finishes in December in France; the world championships will take place in Boston in March. Malinin sounds an ambitious note: "I'm thinking of ways to really level it up as well in the future, like adding a twist or some crazy other combination." As for how he got here, "I've been doing it off-ice for four or five years now," Malinin said. "I was doing gymnastics and it started to become muscle memory." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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