The Magic of Milan: Ilia Malinin Defies Gravity
In my thirty years in the dance world, I have seen many athletes who seek the boundary between sport and art, but what Ilia Malinin showed last night in the Milano Ice Skating Arena borders on the impossible. While the world stared at the ice in Assago, the man we now all know as the 'Quad God' proved why he is a phenomenon. Despite a small slip-up and the fact that he swapped his famous quadruple axel for a triple this time, the energy in the hall was palpable all the way to the back rows.
Even tennis legend Novak Djokovic, who himself won gold in Paris 2024, sat in the stands and watched in awe. It is that rare cross-pollination between different sports disciplines that makes the Olympic Games so special. Malinin doesn't just play a technical program; he plays the audience. We saw that reflected in his standing backflip—a move that was forbidden for decades, but is now finally legal again on Olympic ice. It was a moment that seemed to defy the laws of physics and earned a standing ovation from none other than the legendary 1980 champion Robin Cousins.
The Battle of the Titans: USA against Japan
The battle for gold in the team event is a nerve-wracking affair. Team USA went into the evening as favorites, partly thanks to a masterclass by Madison Chock and Evan Bates in the free dance. But Japan did not give up easily. Shun Sato delivered a flawless routine and achieved a season best that put the Americans under serious pressure. Sato had never beaten Malinin, and although he scored slightly lower technically, the emotion on the Japanese bench was explosive.
Malinin reacted coolly to the pressure. With a score of 200.03, he set a result that proved just out of reach for Sato. It is fascinating to see how this young athlete, only 21 years old, maintains his composure in an arena where the tension is palpable. While other greats, such as skier Lindsey Vonn, took a dramatic fall on the slopes earlier that day, Malinin—despite that one stumble—remained standing like a true champion.
The Technique Behind the 'Quad God'
What Malinin does is almost incomprehensible from a dance perspective. The rotation speed required for his jumps is so high that the human eye can barely follow it. At Miss Salsa, we often look at the suppleness and the transitions between the steps, and although critics sometimes say that Malinin is technically stronger than artistic, this program was very well constructed. It was 'classy', mature, and showed that he has grown as a performer.
In practice, this means that he focuses not only on the jumps but also on the connection with the music. He feeds on the excitement of the crowd. This is a lesson every dancer can take to heart: technique takes you far, but your interaction with your audience makes you a star. The absence of the quadruple axel was perhaps a tactical choice to save energy for the individual finals, but the triple axel he landed was of unprecedented beauty.
What We as Dancers Can Learn from Milan 2026
Watching figure skating at this level is a source of inspiration for us as dancers. The way these athletes recover from a mistake is admirable. Malinin stumbled, but he didn't lose his focus for a second. That is the mentality you need on stage, whether that's on ice or on a wooden dance floor.
Specifically, we see three important elements in Malinin:
- Resilience: Continuing immediately after a hitch without it affecting your appearance.
- Audience interaction: The ice is your stage; every look and every gesture counts.
- Pushing boundaries: Daring to do what others deem impossible, such as that backflip.
The Milan-Cortina Games have only just begun, but the tone has been set. The battle between the United States and Japan remains incredibly exciting, and with the individual events still ahead, it is clear that Ilia Malinin is the man everyone is watching. He hasn't just raised the bar; he has put it into another orbit around the Earth.
For more details on the results and live updates, you can visit the official sources: Source: BBC Sport and the official website of Milano Cortina 2026.