Article Text

Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion figure skater Ilia Malinin returned to Westbriar Elementary School on June 15, thrilling students at the school where he once played soccer, did backflips and imagined his future.

Malinin, known as the “Quad God” for landing some of figure skating’s hardest quadruple jumps—including the first quadruple axel completed in competition—spoke with students throughout the day. He arrived wearing a red “Team USA 26” shirt instead of his familiar competition costume and skates.

Principal Sallie Burch revealed to an audience of second and third graders that Malinin had once sat and played in the same gym. Students then watched a video about his career before Third Grade Teacher Alex Lujan moderated a conversation with him.

Malinin joked that the school seemed smaller than he remembered. Asked about his favorite Westbriar memory, he recalled playing soccer with friends during recess.

“I was the backflip kid,” he said, explaining that classmates would ask for a backflip whenever he scored a goal. His answer drew sustained applause.

Malinin also reflected on competing at the 2026 Olympics, which he described as the source of some of his most memorable experiences. He said those moments continue to motivate him to pursue his dreams, help others and become the best version of himself.

Much of his message centered on perseverance. Malinin told students that pursuing something they love inevitably brings challenges, setbacks and sacrifices.

“It’s not going to be perfect all the time, and everything doesn’t come to you instantly,” he said. He also encouraged students to learn from disappointment, telling them, “You learn most not from winning, but from losing.”

Students questioned Malinin about skating, pressure, sports and life away from the ice. He said he had attempted five spins but became very dizzy. Before focusing on figure skating, he tried gymnastics and was also interested in soccer.

Malinin shared that he enjoys making music and outfits and hopes to become a fashion designer someday. He also likes reading, writing stories and playing video games—especially Fortnite, an answer that prompted cheers from the gym.

When a student asked how he performs backflips, Malinin offered a deceptively simple explanation: “It’s pretty easy, you just jump and flip.”

Before leaving, Malinin reassured students that they did not need to have their futures mapped out. Those with dreams should keep working toward them, he said, while those still uncertain should remain open to learning and enjoy their lives.

Malinin ended the visit by giving students high-fives, smiles and hugs as they returned to class. His final advice was direct: “Never give up.”