The Physics Behind the Quadruple Axel, the Most Difficult Jump in Figure Skating

"In figure skating, the quadruple axel is generally considered the most difficult jump. Until 2022, when US skater Ilia Malinin-currently riding high as the "Quad God" at the 2026 Winter Olympics-started doing them, they seemed impossible. Landing one, naturally, can give an athlete a higher score. But for skaters who aren't generational talents like Malinin, grasping exactly how to pull off a quadruple axel can be tricky. But physics can offer some clues."

"Generally speaking the axel is the most technically complex of the jumps. There are three main types, each distinguished by their takeoffs: toe, blade, or edge. Most are named after the first person to do them; the axel is named after Norwegian skater Axel Paulsen. It is also the only one that involves a forward start, which leads the athlete to perform a half-turn more than other jumps."

The quadruple axel demands completing four and a half rotations from a forward takeoff and stands as the most technically difficult jump in figure skating. Landing one increases technical scores under current judging, which awards higher base values to triple and quadruple jumps and uses technical specialists and a controller to grade elements. The axel's forward start adds a half-turn compared with other jumps. Ilia Malinin began performing quad axels in 2022, demonstrating their feasibility at the elite level. A 2024 Sports Biomechanics study by Seiji Hirosawa highlighted vertical height as a key factor, finding skaters need about 20 inches of airtime. The study analyzed competition footage using the Ice Scope tracking system.

Read at WIRED