Ilya Marinin, a 21-year-old American figure skater, led Team USA to gold in the team figure skating competition at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, showcasing an impressive performance that included a backflip landing on one skate. This marks his first Olympic gold after being controversially left out of the 2022 Beijing Olympics. He placed first in the men’s short program and has his eyes set on the men’s free skate next.
Born in Virginia to former Olympic figure skaters, Marinin began skating at age six after a shift from soccer. Known as the “Quad God,” he has gained a reputation for doing unprecedented moves, such as performing a quad axel. His remarkable backflip during the competition even drew awe from tennis star Novak Djokovic.
Scott Hamilton, a former Olympic champion, praised Marinin’s unique skills and his ability to revolutionize the sport. Despite being snubbed for the Beijing Games, Marinin has continued to dominate, winning gold in the last three Grand Prix Finals and two world titles, boasting a record of 14 consecutive wins.
He aims to humanize the perception of athletes, sharing that despite their extraordinary talents, they are still ordinary people with emotions. Marinin also expressed a desire to “revolutionize” sports and return to the glory days of figure skating, navigating the pressures that come with Olympic aspirations.
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