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Ilia Malinin is a famous ice skater from America. He is very good at jumping. People call him the “Quad God.” Recently, he did a backflip on the ice at the Olympics. The crowd watched and cheered.
For a long time, backflips were not allowed. A man named Terry Kubicka did a backflip in 1976. After that, judges said the move was too dangerous. They banned the backflip for 48 years. If a skater did a backflip, they lost points.
In 1998, French skater Surya Bonaly did a backflip. She wanted to make the fans happy. The judges punished her because it was against the rules. In 2024, French skater Adam Siao Him Fa also did a backflip.
Finally, the rules changed in 2024. Now, the backflip is allowed. It is not banned anymore. Skaters can do backflips to make their shows exciting.
Ilia Malinin says he likes the backflip. He says the fans love it, too. You can see him skate this week. He will jump and flip on the ice at the Olympics in Italy.
Vocabulary
- Famous – well-known; many people know this person; popular.
- Ice skater – a person who dances or moves on ice; an athlete who wears skates on a frozen lake or rink. ⛸️
- Quad god – a name for a person who is the best at quadruple jumps; the best at jumping and spinning
- Quad – a jump/move where the skater spins four times in the air;
- God – a very powerful person; the best person at a specific skill or activity.
- Recently – a short time ago; not long ago; lately.
- Backflip – a jump where you turn your body backward in a full circle in the air; a jump where you turn your body upside down in the air 🤸
- Crowd – a large group of people in one place; many people watching a show. 👨👩👧👦
- Cheer – to shout with joy; to make a loud sound because you are happy or excited. 👏
- Allow – to let someone do something; to say “yes” to an action; to permit. ✅
- Judge – a person who watches a competition and gives a score; the person who decides the winner. 👨⚖️
- Move – an action; a specific trick or dance step in a show.
- Ban – to say “no” to something; to make something not allowed; to stop a move from being used. 🚫
- Point – a unit for scoring; a number you get for doing something well in a game.
- Fan – a person who likes a famous person; someone who loves a sport or a team.
- Punish – to give a penalty; to make someone lose something because they did a bad thing.
- Against the rules – not allowed; doing something you are told not to do; illegal in a game.
- Rule – a law in a game; a list of things you must or must not do.
- Show – a performance; a program; something people watch for fun.
- Flip – to turn your body over in the air; a jump where your feet go over your head.
Discussion Questions
- Do you think the backflip is too dangerous for ice skating? Why or why not?
- Is “Quad God” a cool name for Ilia Malinin?
- In 1998, Surya Bonaly did a backflip to make fans happy, but she lost points. Was she right to do this?
- Is it more important for a sport to be “traditional” or “exciting”?
- Do you like to watch sports that have “dangerous” moves? Why?
- If you were a judge, would you give more points for a backflip or a quadruple jump?
- Why do you think rules in sports change after many years?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Ilia Malinin _____ a famous ice skater from America. _____ is very good at jumping. People call him the “Quad God.” _____ , he did a backflip on the ice at the Olympics. _____ crowd watched and cheered.
For a long _____ , backflips were not allowed. A man _____ Terry Kubicka did a backflip in 1976. After that, _____ said the move was too dangerous. They banned the _____ for 48 years. If a skater did a backflip, they lost _____ .
In 1998, French skater Surya Bonaly _____ a backflip. She wanted to make the fans _____ . The judges punished her _____ it was against the rules. In _____ , French skater Adam Siao Him Fa also did a backflip.
_____ , the rules changed in 2024. Now, the backflip is _____ . It is not banned anymore. Skaters can do backflips to make their _____ exciting.
Ilia Malinin says he _____ the backflip. He says the fans love it, too. You can see him _____ this week. He will jump and flip on the ice at the Olympics _____ Italy.
