The 2022 U.S. International Classic gained media attention when Ilia Malinin landed the first ever quadruple Axel in competition.[2][3]
Background
The ISU Challenger Series was introduced in 2014. It is a series of international figure skating competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union and organized by ISUmember nations. The objective was to ensure consistent organization and structure within a series of international competitions linked together, providing opportunities for senior-level skaters to compete at the international level and also earn ISU World Standing points.[4] The 2022–23 Challenger Series consisted of ten events, of which the U.S. International Classic was the first.
The ISU published the preliminary list of entries on August 18, 2022.[5]
During the free skate, Ilia Malinin successfully performed the very first quadruple Axel in competition.[10] While skaters in the past had attempted the quadruple Axel, Malinin was the first to successfully land one with full four-and-a-half rotations in the air. Adam Rippon, American skater and Olympic bronze medalist, wrote on social media: "This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do on the ice."[11] Malinin's free skate included three other quadruple jumps and a difficult triple Lutz-triple Axel sequence.[12]
Daniel Grassl of Italy withdrew from the competition after a rough collision with the boards during his free skate.[13]
^Cloutier, Claire (November 2022). "'It Feels Great'"(PDF). Skating. pp. 10–12. Archived(PDF) from the original on May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
