The first person to land a triple axel in competition was Canadian figure skater Vern Taylor. He accomplished this historic feat on March 9, 1978, at the World Championships held in Ottawa, Canada. This breakthrough moment changed figure skating forever and set a new standard for athletic excellence in the sport.
Many people mistakenly believe Tonya Harding or Midori Ito was the first to land this jump. That confusion comes from the fact that most media coverage focuses on women’s achievements. But Vern Taylor’s accomplishment predates all others by a full decade.
Our team researched this topic extensively, diving into competition records and historical archives. We wanted to give you the complete picture of this remarkable achievement and clear up the common misconceptions.
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Who Was the First Person to Land a Triple Axel?
Vern Taylor, a Canadian figure skater, made history on March 9, 1978, at the World Figure Skating Championships in Ottawa. He became the first skater ever to successfully complete a triple axel in international competition.
This achievement came during a time when figure skating was undergoing significant evolution. Skaters were pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible, and Taylor’s triple axel proved that three-and-a-half rotations were achievable.
The moment was captured on video and verified by International Skating Union judges. It instantly became one of the most significant milestones in the sport’s history.
What Is a Triple Axel and Why Is It So Difficult?
A triple axel is a figure skating jump that requires three-and-a-half full rotations in the air. The skater takes off from a forward outside edge, rotates while airborne, and lands on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.
The forward take-off makes the axel unique among all figure skating jumps. Every other jump takes off from a backward edge, which gives the skater natural momentum for rotation. The axel forces the skater to generate all that rotation from a forward position.
This half-rotation difference means a triple axel actually requires the same air time as a quadruple toe loop or quadruple salchow. The physics work against the skater, making it technically harder than other triple jumps.
The Physics Behind the Challenge
When a skater takes off forward for an axel, they must fight against their initial momentum. The body naturally wants to continue moving forward, but the skater needs to spin backward in the air.
This requires generating enormous rotational speed while maintaining height. Most triple axels last less than one second from take-off to landing. Within that brief window, the skater must complete 1260 degrees of rotation.
The landing presents another challenge. Coming down from that rotation while maintaining balance on a thin blade requires exceptional core strength and spatial awareness.
The Historic Moment: Vern Taylor’s 1978 Achievement
March 9, 1978, was a cold day in Ottawa, but the atmosphere inside the arena was electric. Vern Taylor had been working on the triple axel for years, training countless hours to perfect the technique.
His successful landing that day at the World Championships represented more than a decade of incremental progress. Skaters had been attempting increasingly difficult axel variations since the jump was first invented in the 19th century.
The competition judges verified the jump according to International Skating Union standards. Taylor received full credit for the triple axel, cementing his place in figure skating history.
Context of Figure Skating in 1978
The late 1970s were a transitional period for figure skating. The sport was moving away from its purely artistic roots toward greater athletic demands. Skaters were expected to perform increasingly difficult technical elements.
Computer-assisted scoring did not exist yet. Judges watched jumps in real-time and made split-second decisions about rotation completion and landing quality.
Taylor’s achievement set off a chain reaction in the skating world. Within a few years, other male skaters began incorporating triple axels into their programs regularly.
Timeline of Triple Axel Firsts
The history of the triple axel includes several significant milestones beyond Vern Taylor’s original achievement. Each first represents a breakthrough for different categories of skaters.
First Overall: Vern Taylor (1978)
As we’ve established, Vern Taylor became the first person to land a triple axel in competition. This happened at the 1978 World Championships in Ottawa on March 9, 1978.
First Woman: Midori Ito (1988)
Ten years after Taylor’s achievement, Japanese skater Midori Ito made history. She landed the first triple axel by a woman in competition at the 1988 NHK Trophy in Tokyo.
Ito’s jump was revolutionary for women’s figure skating. The physical demands of the triple axel were considered by many to be beyond female skaters’ capabilities at the time.
First American Woman: Tonya Harding (1991)
On February 16, 1991, Tonya Harding became the first American woman to land a triple axel in competition. She accomplished this at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Harding’s achievement came three years after Ito’s breakthrough. She remains one of only a handful of American women to ever successfully complete this jump in competition.
First at the Olympics: Various Skaters
The triple axel has been landed at multiple Olympic Games. Midori Ito landed one at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, becoming the first woman to do so at the Games.
Mirai Nagasu made history at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics by landing a triple axel during the team event. She was the first American woman to complete the jump at an Olympics.
The Women Who Made History
While Vern Taylor was the first person overall, the women who have landed triple axels deserve special recognition. Each faced unique challenges and helped push the sport forward.
Midori Ito – The Pioneer
Midori Ito of Japan revolutionized women’s figure skating with her triple axel. Standing at just 4 feet 9 inches, she generated incredible power and rotation speed.
Ito first landed the jump in competition at the 1988 NHK Trophy. She went on to land it again at the 1989 World Championships and the 1992 Olympics.
Her technique became the model for future generations. Many coaches still reference Ito’s form when teaching the triple axel today.
Tonya Harding – The American First
Tonya Harding landed her historic triple axel on February 16, 1991, at the U.S. Championships. At the time, she was only the second woman ever to accomplish this feat.
Harding’s power and athleticism were exceptional. She generated enough height and rotation to make the jump look almost effortless compared to her competitors.
Despite the later controversies surrounding her career, her technical achievement remains valid and significant in skating history.
The Complete List of Women Who Have Landed Triple Axels
As of 2026, only eight women have successfully landed a triple axel in international competition. Here is the complete list in chronological order:
1. Midori Ito (Japan) – First in 1988
2. Tonya Harding (USA) – First American woman in 1991
3. Yukari Nakano (Japan) – Landed multiple in early 2000s
4. Ludmila Nelidina (Russia) – First Russian woman in 2002
5. Mao Asada (Japan) – Landed three in one program at 2010 Olympics
6. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (Russia) – World Champion 2015
7. Rika Kihira (Japan) – First woman to land one in senior debut
8. Mirai Nagasu (USA) – First American woman at Olympics in 2018
Alysa Liu also landed triple axels in competition starting in 2019, though some were at junior-level events. The rarity of this achievement demonstrates just how difficult the jump remains.
Why Is the Triple Axel Harder Than Other Triple Jumps?
The triple axel’s difficulty comes from a combination of biomechanical and physical factors. Understanding these helps explain why Vern Taylor’s 1978 achievement was so remarkable.
The Forward Take-Off Problem
All other triple jumps take off from a backward edge. This backward momentum naturally helps the skater rotate in the air. The axel’s forward take-off works against this natural rotation.
Skaters must convert forward momentum into backward rotation instantly. This requires a powerful “kick” with the free leg and precise timing of the edge take-off.
The Extra Half Rotation
A triple toe loop or triple salchow requires exactly three full rotations. A triple axel requires three-and-a-half rotations because of that forward take-off position.
This means the skater must rotate 1260 degrees instead of 1080 degrees. That extra 180 degrees might not sound like much, but it requires significantly more air time and rotational speed.
Training Requirements
Most elite skaters spend years attempting triple axels before landing one successfully. The training involves off-ice jumping exercises, trampoline work, and countless attempts on the ice with harnesses.
Even then, many elite male skaters never master the triple axel. Among female skaters, the numbers are even smaller, as our list of only eight women demonstrates.
Related Achievements: The Quadruple Axel
Ilia Malinin of the United States made history on September 14, 2022, by landing the first quadruple axel in competition. He accomplished this at the U.S. Classic in Lake Placid.
The quadruple axel requires four-and-a-half rotations in the air. This makes it even more difficult than the triple version that Vern Taylor pioneered.
Malinin’s achievement represented the next evolution in axel jumping. It had been attempted by elite skaters for decades without success.
The Evolution of the Jump
From the single axel invented by Axel Paulsen in 1882 to Ilia Malinin’s quadruple in 2022, the axel jump has evolved dramatically. Each new variation pushed the boundaries of what was considered possible.
Vern Taylor’s triple axel in 1978 came after nearly a century of skaters attempting increasingly difficult variations. Malinin’s quadruple came 44 years after Taylor’s breakthrough.
As of 2026, no skater has attempted a quintuple axel. Physicists debate whether the human body can generate enough height and rotational speed for five-and-a-half rotations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Triple Axels
Who was the first person to land a triple axel?
Vern Taylor, a Canadian figure skater, was the first person to land a triple axel in competition. He accomplished this on March 9, 1978, at the World Championships in Ottawa, Canada.
Who was the first woman to land a triple axel?
Midori Ito of Japan was the first woman to land a triple axel in competition. She achieved this milestone in 1988 at the NHK Trophy in Tokyo, ten years after Vern Taylor’s first.
Who was the first American woman to land a triple axel?
Tonya Harding became the first American woman to land a triple axel on February 16, 1991, at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She was only the second woman worldwide to accomplish this feat after Midori Ito.
Who landed a quadruple axel?
Ilia Malinin of the United States landed the first quadruple axel in competition on September 14, 2022, at the U.S. Classic in Lake Placid. This historic achievement came 44 years after Vern Taylor’s first triple axel.
How many people have landed a triple axel?
Hundreds of male skaters have landed triple axels in competition. However, only eight women have successfully landed a triple axel in international competition: Midori Ito, Tonya Harding, Yukari Nakano, Ludmila Nelidina, Mao Asada, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Rika Kihira, and Mirai Nagasu.
How did Tonya Harding’s career end?
Tonya Harding’s competitive skating career ended following the 1994 scandal involving the attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan. She was banned for life by the U.S. Figure Skating Association after pleading guilty to hindering the prosecution. She later competed as a professional boxer and has appeared in various television programs.
Why is the triple axel so difficult?
The triple axel is difficult because it is the only jump with a forward take-off, requiring three-and-a-half rotations instead of three. The forward take-off works against natural rotation, and the skater must generate enough height and speed to complete 1260 degrees of rotation in less than one second.
When was the first triple axel at the Olympics?
The first triple axel by a woman at the Olympics was landed by Midori Ito at the 1992 Albertville Games. The first triple axel by an American woman at the Olympics was landed by Mirai Nagasu at the 2018 PyeongChang Games during the team event.
Conclusion
Vern Taylor was the first person to land a triple axel in figure skating competition. His achievement on March 9, 1978, at the World Championships in Ottawa opened the door for generations of skaters to push the boundaries of what is possible.
From Taylor’s first to Ilia Malinin’s quadruple axel in 2022, this jump has remained the ultimate test of a figure skater’s technical ability. The fact that only eight women have ever landed a triple axel shows just how difficult it remains.
Understanding who was the first person to land a triple axel helps us appreciate the evolution of figure skating. Each new generation builds on the achievements of pioneers like Vern Taylor, Midori Ito, and the handful of athletes who have mastered this remarkable jump.