- The Backflip Returns: Ilia Malinin, 21, officially becomes the first skater to land a legal backflip at the Olympics since 1976, sending the Milano Ice Skating Arena into a ‘frenzied’ standing ovation.
- The ‘Kagiyama Masterclass’: Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama takes the top spot with a near-perfect 108.67, outclassing Malinin’s 98.00 by delivering the technical ‘cleanliness’ the judges crave.
- Calculated Risk: Malinin admits he was only at “50 per cent” power, skipping his history-making Quad Axel to save his legs for the individual gold.
- Heath Ledger Vibes: Fans are ‘reeling’ over Malinin’s “The Lost Crown” artistry, comparing his intense, edgy energy to the late Dark Knight star.
It was the moment that “stopped the world’s heart.” When Ilia Malinin launched into a flawless backflip during his Olympic debut, he didn’t just break the ice—he broke 50 years of tradition.
The move, famously performed by Surya Bonaly as a defiant middle finger to the judges in 1998 (which cost her points), was finally legalized by the ISU in 2024. Malinin, ever the “Quad God,” wasted no time claiming it as his own. But while the crowd roared, the judges’ scorecards told a more ‘harrowing’ story for Team USA, leaving fans wondering: If a backflip doesn’t get you first place, what does?
WHAT THE HELL DID 1ST PLACE DO?
You asked the million-dollar question! While Ilia brought the “magic,” Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama brought “absolute surgical precision.” To beat a backflip, Kagiyama turned himself into a “human machine.”
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The Technical Edge: While Ilia had a “shaky” landing on his Triple Axel and an under-rotation on his Quad Lutz, Kagiyama was flawless. He landed a Quad Toe-Triple Toe combo and a Quad Salchow with such “incandescent” smoothness that he racked up massive Grades of Execution (GOE).
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The Component King: Kagiyama’s artistry is “classical perfection.” He outscored Ilia in skating skills and transitions, proving that while Malinin is the “athlete of the future,” Kagiyama is currently the “master of the present.”
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Ilia’s Strategy: Crucially, Malinin held back. He chose a “tame” Quad Flip over his signature Quad Axel. He told reporters he was “pacing himself,” essentially treating the team event like a high-stakes rehearsal.
Yuma Kagiyama 🇯🇵 SP Team Event Olympics 2026
by
u/llinstitutesynthll in
FigureSkating
SIDEBAR: THE BACKFLIP BREAKDOWN
| Skater | Year | Status | The Result |
| Terry Kubicka | 1976 | Legal | The last time it was allowed; promptly banned after. |
| Surya Bonaly | 1998 | Illegal | Landed on one foot but was deducted points. |
| Ilia Malinin | 2026 | LEGAL | 0.00 Deduction! (But no massive “Base Value” yet). |
‘HEATH LEDGER ON ICE’
You hit the nail on the head with the Heath Ledger comparison! The “Lost Crown” routine features a “dark, brooding charisma” that is a far cry from the “cookie-cutter” skaters of the past. His “arm movement entries” and creative spins are finally silencing the critics who claimed he was “all jumps and no soul.”
Even in 2nd place, Malinin has done something more valuable than a gold medal in one night: he’s made figure skating “cool” again.
Does Ilia’s backflip make him the ‘GOAT’ in your eyes, or do you think the judges were right to reward Kagiyama’s ‘cleaner’ traditional skate?
