Shaidorov Stuns, Wins Olympic Figure Skating Gold
Mikhail Shaidorov won men's Olympic figure skating gold with 291.58 after Ilia Malinin fell twice and finished eighth with 264.49 at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Overview
Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won men's Olympic figure skating gold with 291.58 points after Ilia Malinin fell twice in the free skate, leaving Malinin eighth with 264.49 points.
Malinin, 21, had led by five points after the short program, entered as the favourite and two-time reigning world champion, and had already helped the United States win Olympic team gold.
Malinin said "I blew it" and described overwhelming nerves, then immediately congratulated Shaidorov, while the Milano Ice Arena crowd and spectators including Nathan Chen and Simone Biles reacted in stunned silence.
Shaidorov landed five quads in a technically clean free skate for a career-best 291.58, while Malinin's free skate scored 156.33 points and ended a 14-competition unbeaten streak.
The medals went to Shaidorov, Japan's Yuma Kagiyama (silver) and Shun Sato (bronze), and the result gave Kazakhstan its first Winter Olympic gold since Lillehammer 1994.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a dramatic American downfall, using loaded language ('Quad God' turned 'mere mortal', 'disastrous', 'one of the worst nights') and narrative sequencing that foregrounds Malinin's failure. Editorial choices favor Malinin's perspective with multiple personal quotes and vivid detail, while Shaidorov receives brief description and limited direct voice.
Sources (7)
FAQ
Mikhail Shaidorov is a 21-year-old Kazakhstani figure skater from Almaty, born June 25, 2004, who won the 2026 Olympic gold in men's figure skating, becoming Kazakhstan's first figure skating Olympic champion and the second Winter Olympic gold medalist for the country.
Ilia Malinin, the favorite and two-time world champion, fell twice in the free skate due to overwhelming nerves, scoring 156.33 in that segment for a total of 264.49 points, ending his 14-competition unbeaten streak.
Gold: Mikhail Shaidorov (Kazakhstan, 291.58 points); Silver: Yuma Kagiyama (Japan); Bronze: Shun Sato (Japan).
Shaidorov is the 2025 World silver medalist, 2025 Four Continents champion, four-time Grand Prix medalist, 2022 World Junior silver medalist, and five-time Kazakh national champion; he pioneered specific triple Axel-quad combinations.
Shaidorov's gold is Kazakhstan's first in figure skating and first Winter Olympic gold since Vladimir Smirnov's 1994 cross-country win, 32 years prior.
History
- 4 sources
