How old is Ilia Malinin? Where 'Quad God' would rank among youngest men to win Olympic gold

There is an art to figure skating. While it is an athletic event, it also combines a performance aspect as the competitors look to put on a show. 

One of the sport's best is American figure skater Ilia Malinin. He is the first skater to land a quadruple axel, which is a move that was long considered impossible due to its high level of difficult. Malinin not only has hit the move, but he continues to hit the move with relative consistency. 

The young figure skater has earned the nickname "Quad God" due to his ability to hit the move with ease. Malinin's showmanship continues as he hits backflips on the ice for show, as they are not a recognized move in figure skating and earn him no points every time he does it. 

One of the craziest things about Malinin is his age. He is one of the youngest members of Team USA in 2026, and yet is favored to take the gold medal in men's figure skating. 

Here is more on how old Malinin is and how he would compare to youngest to win Olympic gold. 

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How old is Ilia Malinin?

Malinin is 21 years old. He was born on December 2, 2004 in Fairfax, Virginia. Malinin stayed local to Virginia throughout his childhood. After graduating from George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, VA, he enrolled in George Mason University, where he is still a student. 

MORE: What is a quadruple axel?

Youngest men to win Olympic gold

Malinin has already won one gold medal at the 2026 Winter Games in the Olympic figure skating team event. He lost the short program event by 14 points, but the team's overall score was good enough to win Team USA, and Malinin won a gold medal.

The figure skating phenom is still looking for his first singles competition gold medal, with his first chance to do so on Friday, February 13 in the men's single skating competition. Here is how he compares to the youngest men to win gold in Olympic history. The data is looking at the Olympic Games after 1950. 

Even with Malinin being a phenom of figure skating, the first person to land a quadruple axel once thought impossible, and the only person to land the move consistently, he is not the youngest male to ever win an Olympic medal. 

MORE: Explaining Ilia Malinin's "Quad God" nickname