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Commending Ilia Roman Malinin.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 11, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 12, 2026
WHEREAS, Ilia Roman Malinin of Vienna, a student at George Mason University and an internationally renowned competitive figure skater, helped Team USA earn a gold medal in the mixed team event at the XXV Winter Olympic Games in 2026; and
WHEREAS, born in Fairfax, Ilia Malinin was inspired to pursue competitive skating by his parents, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, both of whom represented Uzbekistan as figure skaters in previous Winter Olympic Games, and he received some of his earliest training from his grandfather, Valery Malinin, a former Russian figure skater; and
WHEREAS, after making his international debut in 2019, Ilia Malinin served as an alternate for Team USA in the XXIV Winter Olympic Games in February 2022, then won a gold medal at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships the following April; and
WHEREAS, in September 2022, Ilia Malinin became the first skater to successfully land a quadruple axel in international competition; since that time, his signature quadruple jumps have earned him the nickname “QuadGod”; and
WHEREAS, Ilia Malinin advanced to the senior level in 2023, earning a bronze medal at the International Skating Union World Figure Skating Championships; he followed up with a gold medal in 2024, the fastest turnaround from a junior to senior world champion in 26 years, then defended his title with another gold medal in 2025; and
WHEREAS, at the XXV Winter Olympic Games, held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Ilia Malinin performed in the men's free skate of the mixed team event on February 8, 2026; and
WHEREAS, with the United States and Japan tied for first place going into the final performances, Ilia Malinin shocked the crowd by landing a backflip on one skate and finished with a score of 200.03, propelling Team USA into the lead; and
WHEREAS, thanks in large part to Ilia Malinin's spectacular performance, Team USA earned its second consecutive gold medal in the mixed team event; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ilia Roman Malinin for winning a gold medal in the mixed team figure skating event at the XXV Winter Olympic Games; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ilia Roman Malinin as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his athletic achievements and contributions to Team USA.