MILAN — Backflips are now allowed in the sport of figure skating. American superstar and men’s gold medal favorite Ilia Malinin peforms a backflip in his short program, so figure skating fans will get to see it on the 2026 Winter Olympics stage on Feb. 8.
For nearly 50 years, the backflip was banned in figure skating, after American skater Terry Kubicka became the first one to execute it at the 1976 Innsbruck Games. French skater Surya Bonaly did it at the 1998 Winter Olympics, landing it on one blade, but the move was illegal and she was deducted for it.
The International Skating Union reversed course and made the move legal in 2024, paving the way for it to be done at the 2026 Winter Olympics, 50 years after it was first done.
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How is figure skating scored?
A figure skating routine is made up of two scores: Technical elements score and program components score. The technical elements score is exactly what it sounds like: It’s for the jumps, spins and step sequences in a performance. The program components score is made of up composition, presentation and skating skills.
When does Ilia Malinin skate at 2026 Winter Olympics?
The 21-year-old skates in the men’s short program of the team competition on Feb. 7. Then, he’ll compete in the men’s individual competition, which includes the short program on Feb. 10 and the free skate on Feb. 13.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are backflips allowed in figure skating? What to know
