Will American Quad God' Ilia Malinin try hardest quad of all in his last skate at the Olympics?

"Ilia Malinin keeps teasing fans at the Milan Cortina Olympics by submitting program plans that have the American figure skating star attempting the quad axel, a 4 1/2-revolution jump so difficult nobody but him has ever landed it in competition. Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the figure skating men's team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Yet through two programs in the gold medal-winning team event and his individual short program Tuesday night, the Quad God has yet to attempt the hardest quadruple jump of all, opting instead for the safer triple axel everyone else is doing."

"My lazy part of me, Malinin said with a smirk, just forgetting to change the planned elements. Or maybe Malinin is saving it for his grand finale. He has a five-point lead over Japan's Yuma Kagiyama and France's Adam Siao Him Fa going into the free skate, a margin so big that it seems almost insurmountable, and one that gives him some wiggle room should he attempt the quad axel and fail."

"The plan Malinin has submitted for Friday night includes it naturally part of what would be a record-tying seven quads in all. I'm hoping that I'll feel good enough to do it, Malinin said, more seriously. But of course I always prioritize health and safety. So I really want to put myself in the right mindset where I'll feel really confident to go into it"

Ilia Malinin has repeatedly submitted free-skate plans that include the quad axel, a 4 1/2-revolution jump only he has landed in competition. Despite those planned elements, Malinin opted for the safer triple axel in the team events and the individual short program. A five-point lead into the free skate provides room to attempt higher-risk elements. The submitted program would feature a record-tying seven quadruple jumps if executed. Program content remains flexible; skaters change elements based on practice, condition, or in-run errors. Health, safety, and confidence guide the decision to attempt the quad axel.

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