"For at least a decade, the quadruple axel jump was figure skating's white whale. It's been this unreachable thing, like the four-minute mile once was, says Matthew Lind, a technical specialist for U.S. Figure Skating. Throughout the 2010s male skaters kept landing new jumps that rotate four times in the air: the lutz, the loop, the flip. But at 4.5 rotations, the quad axel is a special case, and it remained incredibly risky to attempt, let alone to perfect."
"Pushing Boundaries of Physics From a physics perspective, the six main jumps of figure skating are variations on the same theme. Skaters glide along the ice to build momentum, then twist themselves up like springs and push off with explosive muscle movements. They have two goals: to jump high to maximize their time in the air and to rotate fast"
The quadruple axel demands 4.5 rotations and long remained an exceptionally risky, elusive jump. Ilia Malinin became the first competitor to land the quad axel in competition in 2022, even landing consecutive quad axels and adopting the moniker Quad God. Figure skating has shifted over decades to reward harder, flashier jumps, with male skaters adding quadruple rotations to multiple jump types. Coaches and biomechanics researchers attribute progress to increased athleticism, refined technique, and targeted training. Physics fundamentals include building momentum on the ice, rapid body twist, explosive push-off, maximizing airtime and rotational speed. The sport may be moving toward quintuples.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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