Daniel Samohin
An Israeli skater whose gravity-defying quad jumps redefined the technical limits of men's figure skating in his era.
Born 1998 (age 28)·Israeli figure skater·Birthday: March 12·Generation Z
Biography
Born in Tel Aviv to a family of skaters, Daniel Samohin's journey was international from the start, training in the United States while representing Israel. His career exploded in 2016 when he captured the World Junior title, a victory built on a then-astounding arsenal of quadruple jumps. Samohin wasn't just a jumper; he was a pioneer of the 'quad revolution,' becoming one of the first skaters to pack five quads into a single competition, pushing the sport's athletic envelope. His path to the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics was a testament to his resilience, overcoming injuries and pressure to compete on winter sports' biggest stage. While consistency proved a later challenge, his legacy is cemented as a technical trailblazer who forced his competitors to level up.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Daniel was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Daniel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Daniel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal at the 2016 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
- Competed for Israel in the men's singles event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
- Landed five quadruple jumps across two programs at the 2016 World Junior Championships, a rare feat at the time.
- Secured a gold medal at the 2015 U.S. International Classic, an ISU Challenger Series event.
Did You Know?
His father, Igor Samohin, was a figure skating coach and his mother was a competitive skater.
He holds dual citizenship and has competed internationally for both Israel and the United States.
He is known for attempting and landing extremely difficult jump combinations in competition.
“Every jump is a fight against gravity and your own doubt.”
