How Did a Figure Skater Make the TIME 100 Sports List?

LeBron James. Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo. Stephen Curry. Shohei Ohtani. Caitlin Clark. And Ilia Malinin. On June 9th 2026, TIME Magazine revealed the inaugural TIME100 Sports list — the 100 most influential people shaping the global sports landscape. And a twenty one year old figure skater from Fairfax, Virginia was on it. In this video we tell the complete story of Ilia Malinin's TIME100 Sports honor. What TIME Magazine writer Alice Park said about why he was chosen. The full list of names he stands alongside — LeBron James, Messi, Ronaldo, Curry, A'ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Mikaela Shiffrin and more. The TIME100 Sports Gala on July 16th in New York City where Malinin appeared alongside LeBron James, Jordan Chiles, Cooper Flagg, Trinity Rodman, Jalen Brunson, Lindsey Vonn and Myles Garrett. The fact that this is TIME's FIRST EVER sports list — making Malinin one of the inaugural 100 people in history to receive this honor. We also explain WHY he was chosen. Not just for his records. Not just for the quad Axel. Not just for the world championships. But for something TIME called playful exuberance. For the Raspberry Twist he invented himself. For what he showed the world in Milan — that even gods are not perfect. And for what he did six weeks later in Prague. This is the video that answers the question every figure skating fan is asking right now. How did Ilia Malinin — a figure skater — end up on a list with the greatest sports icons on the planet? 👉 SUBSCRIBE for more untold athlete stories. 🔔 Hit the notification bell. 👍 LIKE if Malinin deserves to be on that list. 💬 COMMENT: Who surprises you more on the TIME100 Sports list — Malinin or someone else? #IliaMalinin #TIME100Sports #quadgod ⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS Time Chapter 00:00 The List Nobody Expected a Figure Skater On 00:40 What Is the TIME100 Sports? — The Full Story 01:20 Inaugural — Why Being FIRST On This List Matters 02:00 The Names He Stands With — LeBron, Messi, Ronaldo 02:45 What TIME Magazine Said About Malinin — Alice Park's Words 03:30 The Raspberry Twist — Why TIME Called Him Playful 04:15 "Even Gods Are Not Perfect" — TIME's Olympic Take 05:00 The July 16th Gala — Malinin in New York With LeBron 05:45 From TIME100 Next 2022 to TIME100 Sports 2026 06:30 The DMV Connection — Trinity Rodman and Malinin Together 07:15 Why a Figure Skater on This List Changes Everything 08:00 Subscribe and Drop Your Comment