Yesterday (January 4), he turned the rink at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose into a 2013 wedding dance floor, opting to perform his routine to the tune of Lil Jon and DJ Snake's ubiquitous hit "Turn Down for What."
The 22-year-old athlete from Queens, NY, prompted enthusiastic reactions from the crowd and announcers alike — not to mention setting the internet ablaze.
Even Lil Jon seemed to appreciate the shout-out, retweeting a Deadspin story about the performance.
"We kind of wanted to make something that had a lot of excitement," Ma said in an interview with BuzzFeed. "Something to get the older generation excited and also draw in a new audience."
Watch the on-ice spectacle below, and see some of the best Twitter reactions to the unlikely choice of skating soundtrack.
It's the first Olympic year in which figure skaters can use music w/ lyrics in their programs. A man at the US Trials just skated to Lil Jon
— Sara Germano (@germanotes) January 5, 2018
Jimmy Ma brings it at U.S. Figure Skating Championships. pic.twitter.com/ywMuM0vM88
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) January 5, 2018
Jimmy Ma is having a blast skating to DJ Snake and so am I watching it. The bass drop and then going into Turn Down for What after unzipping his pleather jacket. I am dead.
— Hannah Stuart (@HockeywthHannah) January 5, 2018
Section 121 is rocking out to Jimmy Ma's music pic.twitter.com/6gyIn0u0zq
— Marni Gallagher (@crossthefingers) January 5, 2018
Dude legit wagged his tongue right as he went into footwork WHO ARE THESE YOUTHS
— michelle (@michellephuong) January 5, 2018
Jimmy Ma out there skating to house remixes, looking like a guy my mother wouldn't have let me ride home from school with.
— C'est Moi (@flaglerdarling) January 5, 2018
Jimmy Ma just turned down for what! 🔥
— Jeremy Abbott (@jeremyabbottpcf) January 5, 2018
jimmy ma skated to dj snake at the olympic trials so tara lapinski was forced to explain dj snake to johnny weir. 🤣 https://t.co/OULe4UPF5R
— Kimberly (@kimberlyychin) January 5, 2018
When Jimmy Ma figure skates to "Turn down for what" #2018USFigureSkatingChampionship pic.twitter.com/6YNso7DQyb
— Nadeen 🇺🇸🇵🇷 (@simmadownnow21) January 5, 2018
Sadly Ma's performance to the sounds of Lil Jon didn't land him the top spot on the podium; he finished in 11th place, but will compete in the free skate competition tomorrow (January 6).
It's not the first time Ma has skated to an unorthodox musical selection, either. Last year, he performed to an instrumental medley of Eminem songs. Watch footage from that below.
