The backflip had not been allowed by the International Skating Union (ISU) since 1977. In 1976, Malinin’s compatriot Terry Kubicka last performed a ‘legal’ Olympic backflip in Innsbruck. The backflips have been allowed again in ISU competitions since the 2024-2025 season after a rule change.
Watch Malinin’s backflip below:
Spectacular moment
The backflip has a special history in figure skating. After the ban, the jump was only performed sporadically, such as by the Frenchwoman Surya Bonaly in 1998. She knew she would receive penalty points, but her action grew into an iconic Olympic moment. In 2025 the jump was legally performed by the Canadian Stellato-Dudek but not during an Olympic Games.
Malinin seized the opportunity during the short freestyle of the Nations Cup and got the crowd on the benches. “It was great, the crowd went crazy,” he said. Despite the spectacular moment, his performance did not earn the highest score. With 98.00 points he finished second, behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, who took the lead with 108.67 points.
With Malinin’s jump, the spectacular movement now seems to have finally returned to the ice.
Sisters Michelle (22) and Xandra Velzeboer (24) have now arrived in Milan for the Olympic Games. Both individually and in the short track relay they are going for the medal of honor:
