Terry Kubicka performed the first backflip in figure skating competition.

American skater Terry Kubicka made history at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, by landing the move on both feet during his routine. This bold feat placed him seventh overall but etched his name in skating lore as the pioneer, just before the International Skating Union (ISU) banned backflips in 1977 over safety concerns and rules requiring single-skate landings.

Key Historical Moments

  • 1976 Innsbruck Olympics : Kubicka's groundbreaking legal backflip thrilled crowds but led directly to the ISU ban the following year.
  • 1998 Nagano Olympics : French skater Surya Bonaly defied the ban with a one-footed backflip landing as a dramatic protest, earning a deduction but iconic status.
  • 2024 Rule Change : The ISU lifted the prohibition after nearly 50 years, citing evolving athlete safety and sport progression.
  • 2026 Milano Cortina Games : Ilia Malinin executed a backflip, marking its Olympic return and sparking fresh debates on tradition versus innovation.

Why the Ban Happened

The backflip was deemed too risky, with potential for severe head-first falls on ice, and it clashed with figure skating's emphasis on edge control and one- footed landings. Purists argued it veered into gymnastics territory, diluting the sport's elegance—yet rebels like Bonaly turned it into a symbol of defiance.

"American skater Terry Kubicka did the first backflip in competition at the 1976 Games in Innsbruck, Austria. But the next year, the move was made illegal because of fears that it was too dangerous."

Forum Buzz and Trending Views

Recent Reddit threads and Wikipedia discussions highlight Kubicka as the undisputed first, with users debating Bonaly's flair versus his technical precedence. As of February 2026, post-Malinin's Olympic flip, online chatter explodes with clips from 1976 resurfacing—"Kubicka started it all, Bonaly made it legendary," one top comment notes. Some fans speculate if quad backflips are next, blending nostalgia with hype around the rule reversal.

The Move's Legacy

Kubicka's flip wasn't just a stunt; it challenged skating's boundaries, paving the way for today's acrobatic evolution. While banned for decades, its 2026 revival shows how athlete advocacy—like Bonaly's—can reshape rules. Imagine the ice shaking under that first rotation: pure audacity on blades.

TL;DR : Terry Kubicka did the first competitive backflip in 1976; it was banned soon after but returned in 2026.

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