Figure skating-American skater Malinin teases quintuple jump at Milano Games

MILAN, Feb 3 : American Ilia Malinin has raised the tantalising prospect of debuting a quintuple jump at the Milano Cortina Olympics, in what would be a seismic breakthrough in the sport.

The 21-year-old had previously said he would wait until after the Games to unveil the five-revolution jump amid chatter he has successfully landed them in training, but on Tuesday teased that the unprecedented element could arrive "here."

Asked if we might see a quint at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, he played coy.

"Maybe, maybe not," Malinin said.

Pressed on whether he is ready to land one in competition, he repeated: "Maybe, maybe not. We'll see. I'm thinking about it. Thinking not doing it, or doing it. I keep you guys on your toes."

When asked again for a hint, Malinin deflected with a grin: “I give too many hints sometimes.”

But he did offer one clear admission.

"Physically, I’m ready. If the time is right, you might see it," he said.

The double world champion is already known for barrier-breaking jumps, becoming the first skater to cram seven quadruples into a single programme, including that once near-mythical quadruple Axel - which actually involves 4-1/2 rotations.

He is the first skater to land a quad Axel in competition and recently dropped a video clip on social media of executing back-to-back quad Axels that sent figure skating fans into a frenzy. 

Thirty-eight years after Canadian Kurt Browning was hailed for becoming the first skater to land a quad jump, Malinin was asked whether he now feels a responsibility to innovate.

"It's not really a responsibility. It's more a passion for the sport, and being able to put everything out there to show how I am as a person, and express myself through my technical abilities or my artistic