Kurt Browning, is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is the first skater to land a ratified quadruple jump in competition. He is a four-time World Champion and Canadian national champion.
Browning at the 2001 Stars on Ice
Browning performing "Singin' in the Rain" in Art on Ice 2014
A quadruple jump or quad is a figure skating jump with at least four revolutions. All quadruple jumps have four revolutions, except for the quadruple Axel, which has four and a half revolutions. The quadruple toe loop and quadruple Salchow are the two most commonly performed quads. Quadruple jumps have become increasingly common among World and Olympic level men's single skaters, to the point that not performing a quad in a program has come to be seen as a severe handicap. This phenomenon is often referred to as the "quad revolution". Since 2018, quadruple jumps have also become an increasingly common feature of women's skating, although they are not allowed under the International Skating Union ("ISU") rules in the ladies' short program. The first person to land a ratified quadruple jump in competition was Canadian Kurt Browning in 1988. Japanese skater Miki Ando became the first female to do so, in 2002.
American skater Nathan Chen performing a quad jump during his free skate at the 2018 Internationaux de France.
Canadian skater Kurt Browning (right), the first skater to land a quad in competition, pictured in 1989.
Japanese skater Miki Ando, first female skater to land a quad in competition, pictured at the 2009 World Championships.