At the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics, figure skater Ilia Malinin performed a backflip, a move that had been banned in the sport for 50 years due to safety concerns. This historic attempt took place during the men's singles short program, garnering enthusiastic applause from the audience. The backflip had been prohibited since 1977, and even attempted executions would incur point penalties. However, the International Skating Union (ISU) has lifted this ban, reigniting interest in high-difficulty maneuvers and satisfying a demand for new elements in the sport.

Malinin's achievement not only broke a 50-year hiatus of the backflip being performed at the Olympics but also positioned him as the first skater to attempt this move after the ban was lifted. The last time a backflip was seen at the Olympics was when Terry Kubicka tried it in 1976, followed by Surya Bonaly in 1998 as a form of protest. Malinin expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from the audience, highlighting the significance of the Olympic stage, even as he finished in second place behind Japan's Yuma Kagiyama.

The context of this performance surrounds a broader shift in figure skating towards embracing complex moves, with the ISU's decision to allow backflips aimed at enhancing the visual excitement of competitions. Despite not earning any bonus points for executing the backflip, Malinin’s historic moment symbolizes a potentially new era in the sport, as athletes push the boundaries of what is possible on the ice.