Russian teen Kamila Valieva executes Olympic-first jump to claim historic gold medal

A 15-year-old prodigy has stunned the Winter Olympics with a landmark achievement never previously seen in women’s sport.

While most teens are focusing on school, socialising and dabbling in social media, 15-year-old Kamila Valieva is making momentous steps towards figure skating world domination.

The incredible sportswoman, who represents the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), has gripped the globe with her Beijing Winter Olympics campaign, and on Monday made Games history.

Valieva became the first figure skater to ever execute a quadruple jump – a highly difficult and technical element competitors aged more than a decade her senior have yet to attempt.

The teen didn’t only pull off one quadruple jump, but two, and even tried for a third but fell.

Her spectacular program, which earned her a score of 178.92, more than 30 points ahead of second place Kaori Sakamoto, skyrocketed the ROC team to gold.

Kamila Valieva of Team ROC shocked the world with her gold medal performance on Monday. Picture: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

The United States team claimed silver, while Japan won bronze, and Canada just missed out on a podium finish.

Her unspeakable talent at such a young age has seen her labelled a “freak of nature” and a “once in a lifetime” competitor.

“I’m having a hard time finding the proper words but she is absolutely mesmerising,” commentator Johnny Weir, a two-time figure skating Olympian said.

“She can inspire the world with performances like that. She skates with the best women in the whole world … and it felt like she was the only one on the ice.”

Channel 7 commentator Emma Freedman said her performance was “so beautiful to watch”.

“She is a freak of nature if we are being honest. Landing the first quadruple lutz in Olympic competition. She gets an Olympic gold at 15 years old,” she said.

Valieva executed a showstopping performance on Monday. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Co-host and former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington said the display left viewers “absolutely spellbound”.

“Kamila Valieva is unbelievable. She is getting better every time she steps on the ice. What it does now is sets up the women’s singles competition for ROC, the Russian Olympic Committee, to a potentially clean sweep. So beautiful. Mesmerising,” he said.

“A talent like this comes along once in a lifetime,” 1998 Olympic champion Tara Lipinski and Olympic commentator said.

Valieva also holds the world record following her overall score of 272.71 at the Rostelecom Cup, in Russia, in November.

Valieva executed the first quadruple jump in Olympics history. Picture: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Mike Slipchuk, the high performance director at Skate Canada, told Olympics.com Valieva’s impressive skill was likely influencing the sport at large.

“To see what Valieva has been doing and the scores she’s been putting up – and they’re comparable to the men’s scores – I really think it’s this current group of women that are doing the quads have … the messaging is really trickling down to everyone else that if they’re doing it, this is all possible,” he said.

Valieva’s showstopping quadruple jumps are only legal in the free skate competition, while the triple axel is allowed in both the short and the free.