Meet Ilia Malinin’s Parents: The Olympic Skaters Who Shaped the “Quad God”

Ilia Malinin may be rewriting figure skating history, but his story began long before he landed record-breaking quads. The 2026 Olympic gold medalist comes from a family deeply rooted in the sport. His parents, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, are both former Olympians who paved the way long before their son became known as the “Quad God.”

From Russia to the Olympic Stage

Both Malinina and Skorniakov were born in Russia. Malinina was born in Novosibirsk in 1973, while Skorniakov was raised in Sverdlovsk. Though Russian by birth, the pair competed internationally for Uzbekistan at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

Malinina built an impressive résumé of her own. In 1999, she became the first-ever Four Continents Champion and was the first skater representing Uzbekistan to medal at ISU Championships and Grand Prix events. Skorniakov, meanwhile, claimed the Uzbek national men’s singles title in 1997 and represented the country on the Olympic stage.

After retiring in 2002, both transitioned into coaching — a decision that would later shape their son’s path.

Building a Life in Virginia

In 1998, the couple relocated to Virginia due to deteriorating training conditions in Tashkent. They married in January 2000 and eventually settled in Dale City, where they built both a family and a coaching career.

Ilia Malinin was born on Dec. 2, 2004, in Fairfax, Virginia. He later adopted his mother’s last name in its masculine Russian form, as his parents believed “Skorniakov” might be difficult for Americans to pronounce.

The couple also welcomed a daughter, Elli Beatrice — affectionately called “Liza” — who has followed the family tradition and competes as a nationally ranked junior skater.

They Didn’t Want Another Skater

Ironically, Malinin’s parents did not initially encourage him to skate. In fact, they preferred he try something else.

“They didn’t want me to skate at all,” Malinin once explained. Having experienced the intense dedication required to reach the Olympics themselves, they understood the sacrifices involved.

Malinin originally dreamed of playing soccer. But with busy coaching schedules, his parents kept him at the rink after school — and skating gradually took over. By age 9, he qualified for the 2015 U.S. Championships in the juvenile division, despite training only three days per week at the time.

Everything changed when he landed his first quadruple jump at 13. That moment revealed he wasn’t just talented — he was exceptional.

Coaches, Parents, and Mentors

Today, Malinin’s coaching team includes both of his parents, alongside renowned coach Rafael Arutunian. Their dynamic reflects balance: Skorniakov is described as calm and steady, while Malinina brings motivation and intensity.

Skorniakov works on flip, axel, and toe combinations, while Malinina focuses on lutz, loop, salchow, and related combinations. The blend of technical expertise and parental understanding gives Malinin a unique support system.

“Having my parents as coaches helps a lot mentally,” Malinin has shared. “They understand me a lot more. If I have a bad practice, they know it might just be me having a bad day.”

Interestingly, Malinina rarely watches her son compete live because nerves get the better of her — a reminder that even Olympians remain parents first.

A Legacy Still Being Written

In 2022, Malinin became the first person ever to land a quadruple Axel in competition — a feat once thought nearly impossible. By 2026, he had secured Olympic gold in the team event at the Milano Cortina Games, solidifying his place in skating history.

But behind every groundbreaking jump stands a family story decades in the making.

From Russia to Uzbekistan to Virginia, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov carried their Olympic experience into a new generation. And though they once hoped their son might choose another path, they now stand beside him — not just as coaches, but as the foundation of his journey.

The “Quad God” may soar alone on the ice, but his legacy is unmistakably a family one.