who can do a quad axel

Ilia Malinin stands alone as the only figure skater to have successfully landed a quad Axel in competition. This groundbreaking achievement came in 2022 and has held firm through 2026, captivating the skating world with its sheer impossibility turned reality.

What Makes the Quad Axel Unique?

The quad Axel demands 4.5 rotations in the air—more than any other quadruple jump—because it takes off forward from the ice, unlike toe loops or salchows that start backward. Skaters face immense physical strain, landing with forces up to 10 times their body weight in under a second, as noted by peers like Mexico's Donovan Carrillo. No one else, not even legends like Nathan Chen or Yuzuru Hanyu, has matched this in official events despite practice attempts.

Historical Attempts and Milestones

• Pre-2022 : Thought impossible; Yuzuru Hanyu tried at Beijing 2022 Olympics but under-rotated.

• 2022 Breakthrough : Ilia Malinin, then 17, nailed it at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic in Lake Placid, scoring 257.28 points overall.

• Ongoing Quest : Others like Hanyu and Chen practiced it, but competition pressure proved too much—no repeats or rivals yet.

"It's a jump you start on one foot then you do four rotations and a half, landing on the other. But only have than a second to complete those... physically, it’s crazy." – Donovan Carrillo

Latest Status (as of February 2026)

Malinin remains the sole master, with recent 2025 coverage confirming no challengers have landed it cleanly in international comps. Forums buzz about his stability rivaling top triple Axels, calling him "the only human" capable. Speculation swirls: Could training advances spark copycats at 2026 Worlds? Safe bet—Malinin's lead holds for now.

TL;DR: Only Ilia Malinin (USA) has done a quad Axel in competition; it's the holy grail of skating jumps.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.