Alexei Mishin: “Ilia doesn’t have the most concise anatomical features, nor the highest jump, but he is incredibly talented.
Alexei Mishin explained the unique technical aspects of Ilia Malinin’s jumps, emphasizing his exceptional talent and precise adherence to the laws of rotation.
original source: Sports by Maya Bagriantseva
Alexei Mishin, in an interview with a Sports correspondent, described the distinctive jump technique of three-time world champion Ilia Malinin. Here’s a translation.
“The qualities often attributed to Ilia – being fast, agile, and jumping high – are more of a theoretical perception. There is also an analytical perspective, which stems from strict adherence to the laws governing the rotation of both living and non-living bodies.
These laws are the same for a figure skater and for a spinning top on a table. My coaching theory and exercise system are based on this principle.
In Ilia’s case, it’s not only about showing utmost respect for the laws of rotating bodies, but also following them with extreme precision.
He has timely and extremely tight grouping, which harmoniously combines with his upward push. Another important aspect is that he has minimal precession of the axis of rotation in all phases of the jump—takeoff, flight, and landing. What does this mean? Imagine a spinning top that slows down – it starts to wobble. Precession of the axis of rotation leads to the same effects as loose grouping.
There’s another point. To perform multi-rotation jumps, a skater must strive for their body to be as close as possible to a perfectly solid body. Of course, you can’t become a steel rod, but you should aim for it.
Try spinning a raw and a boiled egg on a table. The boiled egg spins, but the raw one doesn’t. A skater should strive to be like a hard-boiled egg. Ilia possesses this quality.
All of this is possible thanks to his natural giftedness. Ilia doesn’t have the most concise anatomical features, nor the highest jump, but he is incredibly talented.”
Related topics: Alexei Mishin, Ilia Malinin
Great point.