Ilia Malinin’s Olympic Skating Roots: Inside The Family That Built The “Quad God”

Ilia Malinin was born into elite figure skating, raised by two Olympians who understood the sport at its highest level long before he ever stepped onto the ice. His parents, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, weren’t just supportive figures on the sidelines — they were veterans of the Olympic stage themselves, shaped by years of international competition, sacrifice, and discipline.

Although both Malinina and Skorniakov were born in Russia, their competitive careers unfolded under the flag of Uzbekistan. According to CBS News, they represented the country at the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. After years of training abroad, they eventually settled in Dale City, Virginia, where they married in January 2000 and began building a family that would soon become synonymous with modern figure skating.

Despite his lineage, Malinin has been clear that skating was never part of some predetermined destiny. Speaking to PEOPLE in January 2026, the self-described “Quad God” admitted that he had no intention of following in his parents’ footsteps early on. It wasn’t until he landed his first quadruple jump at the age of 13 that even his highly accomplished parents realized he possessed something truly extraordinary.

By 2022, Malinin had already begun rewriting the sport’s technical boundaries. He became the first — and remains the only — skater in history to land a fully rotated quadruple Axel in competition. That breakthrough paved the way for his rise, culminating in his first Olympic gold medal as part of the U.S. team event at the 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics.

Ironically, skating wasn’t even his original dream. “I thought I was going to be a soccer player,” Malinin told PEOPLE, explaining that logistics, not destiny, nudged him toward the rink. With his parents’ schedules already consumed by coaching, skating simply became the most practical option — one that quietly took over his life.

Understanding Malinin’s rise means understanding the people who shaped him. From Olympic pressure to everyday routines at the rink, his parents’ influence runs deep, not as pushy architects of success, but as cautious guides who knew exactly how demanding the path could be.

They’re from Russia

Both of Malinin’s parents were born in Russia, each emerging from different corners of the country’s storied skating system. His mother, Tatiana Malinina, was born in Novosibirsk — often called the unofficial capital of Siberia — on January 28, 1973, according to her ISU biography. As a teenager, she relocated and later chose to compete for Uzbekistan, a decision that would shape the rest of her career.

Roman Skorniakov, born on February 17, 1976, grew up in Sverdlovsk, a major Russian industrial city. His ISU bio traces a traditional path through the Soviet skating system, one that emphasized discipline, repetition, and technical precision — traits he would later pass on as a coach.

Malinina and Skorniakov were both Olympic figure skaters

Together, Malinin’s parents competed in two Olympic Games for Uzbekistan, appearing in both the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics. Their experiences placed them among a small group of athletes who navigated Olympic pressure in an era of limited resources and global transition.

Malinina’s achievements extended well beyond Olympic appearances. In 1999, she became the first Four Continents Champion in history and the first Uzbek skater to medal at ISU Championships and on the ISU Grand Prix circuit. Skating was deeply embedded in the family — her father, Valery Malinin, was a skater-turned-coach who often brought a young Ilia to the rink while babysitting him.

Skorniakov also left his mark, winning Uzbekistan’s men’s national title in 1997. After both retired from competition in 2002, they transitioned seamlessly into coaching careers, channeling decades of elite experience into the next generation.

They got married in 2000

In 1998, the couple relocated to Virginia after deteriorating training conditions in Tashkent made elite preparation increasingly difficult. Two years later, in January 2000, they married and committed to building both a family and a coaching future in the United States.

Malinina later reflected on that decision in a 2002 interview with Golden Skate, explaining that while the move to America was challenging, it quickly felt like home — a place where opportunity outweighed uncertainty.

Malinina and Skorniakov have two kids

The couple welcomed their son, Ilia, on December 2, 2004, in Fairfax, Virginia. He later chose to take his mother’s surname in its traditional Russian masculine form, a practical decision rooted in concerns about pronunciation and identity.

Their daughter, Elli — often called “Liza” — followed closely behind and has also embraced skating, developing into a nationally ranked junior competitor in her own right.

Malinin said his parents didn’t want him to skate “at all”

Malinin began skating at six years old, but his parents deliberately avoided pushing him. Initially, skating was simply a way to occupy time after school while they coached other athletes.

Malinina later told NBC Sports that they never imagined he would pursue the sport seriously. That perception shifted only after his early competitive success, particularly his qualification for the 2015 U.S. Championships while practicing just three days a week.

In interviews, Malinin has emphasized that his parents actively discouraged him from skating, fully aware of the sacrifices required to reach the Olympic level.

They had lived that life themselves — the endless hours, the pressure, the physical toll — and hoped to spare their children from repeating it.

Over time, reality won out. Both Ilia and his sister gravitated toward the rink, turning reluctance into acceptance, and eventually, into belief.

Even now, Malinina avoids watching her son compete in person, admitting that the anxiety is often overwhelming despite her pride in his achievements.

Malinina and Skorniakov coach him

Alongside renowned coach Rafael Arutunian, Malinin’s parents remain deeply involved in his development. According to Arutunian, the balance works because Skorniakov brings calm consistency while Malinina provides intensity and motivation.

Malinina has explained that her son feels more at ease when his father is present at competitions, while Skorniakov acknowledges that her presence helps push Ilia when needed.

Their responsibilities are clearly divided: Skorniakov oversees axel, flip, toe, and combination work, while Malinina focuses on lutz, loop, salchow, and advanced technical sequences.

For Malinin, having his parents as coaches provides more than technical guidance. It offers emotional stability, understanding, and trust — qualities he believes are just as important as any jump when navigating the pressures of elite competition.