• Faith: Eastern Orthodox
• Career: Athlete
• Birthday:  December 02, 2004

Ilia Malinin is an American figure skater widely regarded as one of the most technically advanced athletes in the history of the sport. Competing for the United States, Malinin is best known for becoming the first skater to successfully land a fully rotated quadruple Axel in international competition. He is a multiple-time U.S. national champion and world champion and has emerged as a defining figure of modern men’s figure skating.

Malinin was born in Fairfax, Virginia, and raised in Vienna, Virginia. He comes from a deeply rooted skating family. His mother, Tatiana Malinina, and father, Roman Skorniakov, are both former elite international figure skaters who competed for Uzbekistan. Malinin’s maternal grandfather, Valery Malinin, was also a competitive figure skater and coach during the Soviet era. Because of his family background, Malinin was immersed in the sport from an early age.

He began skating at approximately six years old in 2010, initially training under the guidance of his parents. His upbringing was shaped by a blend of American life and Russian cultural heritage, and he grew up bilingual, speaking both English and Russian at home. Malinin has one younger sister, Liza Malinina, who also competes in figure skating.

Malinin quickly distinguished himself in U.S. domestic competition as a youth skater, winning multiple national titles at the juvenile and intermediate levels. His rapid technical development carried into his junior career, where he gained international attention for his powerful jumping ability and consistency.

In 2022, Malinin won the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, setting junior world records in the short program, free skate, and total score. Later that same year, he made history by landing the first fully rotated quadruple Axel in competition, a jump requiring four and a half revolutions in the air and long considered unattainable.

Malinin transitioned successfully to the senior level, earning medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit and establishing himself as one of the sport’s most formidable technical competitors. He won his first U.S. national title in 2023 and successfully defended it in subsequent seasons. He also captured back-to-back World Figure Skating Championships titles in 2024 and 2025, solidifying his position as a global leader in men’s skating.

Known for regularly performing multiple quadruple jumps in his programs, Malinin has redefined competitive expectations. While initially viewed as a jump specialist, he has steadily improved his artistry, musical interpretation, and overall presentation, becoming a more complete skater.

Outside of skating, Malinin maintains a relatively private personal life. He graduated from George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Virginia, in 2023 and later enrolled at George Mason University. He continues to train in Northern Virginia, working closely with his parents while also collaborating with additional coaches.

Malinin has expressed interests beyond figure skating, including video games, skateboarding, drawing, fashion, and digital media. He is active on social media platforms, where he shares aspects of his training, competitions, and creative pursuits.

Ilia Malinnin's Religious Beliefs

Ilia Malinin has not spoken extensively about his religious beliefs in public interviews. However, his family background reflects cultural roots commonly associated with Eastern Orthodox Christianity, particularly within Russian and post-Soviet communities. Available public information indicates that Malinin identifies with an Eastern Orthodox Christian background, though he keeps his faith largely private.

There are no widely published statements in which Malinin discusses specific religious practices or theology. As such, his faith appears to be a personal and private aspect of his life rather than a focal point of his public identity. He has not used his competitive platform to speak openly about religion, choosing instead to let his skating achievements define his public profile.