Are backflips allowed in figure skating? What to know

Editor's note: Follow Olympics figure skating live results and updates from 2026 Winter Games.

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 fans got a chance to see it on the 2026 Winter Olympics stage on Feb. 7, when he skated it in the team event.

And in his free skate in the team competition Sunday, the "Quad God" pulled off another backflip, landing this one on one leg.

Fans will get to see it again when he skates it for the men's singles competition.

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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Why was the backflip banned in figure skating?

After American skater Terry Kubicka became the first person to execute a backflip at the 1976 Innsbruck Games, the International Skating Union banned it within a year because it believed it was too dangerous of a move.

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 skated in the men's short program of the team competition on Feb. 7 and in the free skate in the team event on Feb. 8. Next, he'll compete in the men's individual competition, which includes the short program on Feb. 10 and the free skate on Feb. 13.