“Quad God” Ilia Malinin Says He’s “Still Not at My Full Potential Yet”
Ilia Malinin is back at the World Figure Skating Championships looking to defend his international crown.
The 2025 ISU World Championships are here, and one standout performer fans have been waiting to see is Ilia Malinin.
After taking home the gold in men’s singles at the 2024 World Championships, all eyes are on him to defend his reigning title in Boston. The pressure is also on Malinin following his performance at the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, where he fell on a quadruple loop.
“One of the things I would say is maybe that I’m still not at my full potential yet, and that there’s a lot bigger of a limit that I can go for. So I think that’s something to look forward to worlds,” he shared on NBC Sports.
Here is everything you need to know about Ilia Malinin, from his well-known parents to his other skating achievements.
Where is Ilia Malinin from?
Malinin is from Fairfax, Virginia. He still resides in Virginia and is currently attending George Mason University in his hometown.
How old is Ilia Malinin?
As of March 2025, Malinin is 20 years old. His birthday is December 2, 2024. He began his professional career in 2015 and competed in the juvenile division (age 13 and younger) and eventually aged into the senior division (17+) in the 2021-2022 season.
Who are Ilia Malinin’s parents?
Malinin’s parents are Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov and they are both widely known in the skating world, both previously representing Uzbekistan competitively. Malinina is a two-time Olympian (1998, 2002) and retired in 2002.
Skorniakov is also a two-time Olympian (1998, 2002) and has been coaching since his 2002 retirement.
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Who is Ilia Malinin’s sister?
Ilia Malinin’s sister is Elli Beatrice Malinina, nicknamed "Liza." She is also a competitive figure skater, following in the footsteps of her brother and parents. Just 10 years old, her most notable performance thus far has been her participation in the 2025 U.S. Eastern Sectionals. She competed in the juvenile girls free skate division, placing 17th.
How tall is Ilia Malinin?
Ilia Malinin is 5’8 1/2 feet tall, according to his official Team USA athlete profile.
Ilia Malinin’s skating accomplishments
At just 20 years old, Malinin has achieved some of the most coveted titles in figure skating. He is a two-time Grand Prix gold medalist and a three-time U.S. national champion, in addition to being the reigning world champion.
His most notable achievement is becoming the first and only skater to land a quadruple axel, earning him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
You can see him in action at the 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, streaming live on Peacock.
