Shaidorov Wins Olympic Figure Skating Gold; Malinin Struggles

Mikhail Shaidorov has won the Olympic gold medal for figure skating. The favorite, Ilia Malinin, made several mistakes and did not win a medal. This is a historic win for Kazakhstan.
By Newsroom | Sports, Winter Olympics |

The men's figure skating final at the 2026 Winter Olympics concluded with a significant upset, as Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan secured the gold medal. The event was marked by a surprising faltering of pre-event favorite Ilia Malinin, who struggled with multiple errors and finished outside the medal positions. Shaidorov's victory represents Kazakhstan's first-ever Olympic figure skating title, a historic achievement for the nation.

Shaidorov wins gold as 'Quad God' Malinin crumbles - 1

Context of the Competition

The men's free skate was highly anticipated, with Ilia Malinin, known as the 'Quad God', widely expected to win. Malinin had entered the event as the overwhelming favorite, having not been defeated in over two and a half years. However, the pressure of the Olympic final appeared to take its toll.

Shaidorov wins gold as 'Quad God' Malinin crumbles - 2

  • Malinin's Performance: Reports indicate Malinin made several critical errors during his routine. These included falling on a planned quad lutz, doubling jumps he would typically complete, and a planned quad axel being reduced to a single rotation. He fell twice, significantly impacting his score.

  • Shaidorov's Performance: In contrast, Mikhail Shaidorov delivered a clean performance. Despite an initial slight slip on a quad lutz, he successfully executed two clean quadruple jumps. He was noted for maintaining composure under pressure.

  • Other Skaters: French skater Adam Siao Him Fa, who was in third place after the short program, also experienced difficulties. Japanese skaters Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato completed the podium, with Kagiyama becoming the most decorated Japanese skater in Olympic history.

Evidence of Performance Discrepancies

Multiple sources highlight the contrast between Malinin's struggles and Shaidorov's success.

Read More: Canada and Sweden Curling Teams Argue During Olympic Game

Shaidorov wins gold as 'Quad God' Malinin crumbles - 3

  • Malinin's Errors:

  • "On his quad salchow, he only executed a double, then fell." (Article 1)

  • "The planned quad axel was reduced to a single, and later he fell on another quad lutz." (Article 5)

  • "He fell twice during the routine." (Article 4)

  • "He bailed on the lutz, recovered to land the toe loop, then crashed again on the salchow." (Article 9)

  • Shaidorov's Success:

  • "The only man to skate clean, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, was left stunned as he won gold…" (Article 1)

  • "…Shaidorov kept his head when all about were losing theirs and produced two clean quad techniques of his own." (Article 1)

  • "The Kazakhstanais has signed the best score on the free program, Friday evening, to create the surprise and win his first individual medal at the Olympic Games." (Article 10)

Malinin's Reaction to Performance

Ilia Malinin's disappointment was evident following his performance. Reports describe him visibly distressed on the ice and as he left it.

Read More: Ilia Malinin Finishes Eighth at Olympics After Difficult Free Skate

Shaidorov wins gold as 'Quad God' Malinin crumbles - 4

"At the end, Malinin grabbed his hair and put his hands to his knees. As he left the ice he could only shake his head on the verge of tears." (Article 1)

"As soon as he finished his routine, his head sunk into his hands." (Article 4)

"He, too, planted his face in his hands - but in utter disbelief of how his skate has come unravelled." (Article 2)

Shaidorov's Historic Victory

Mikhail Shaidorov's gold medal is a landmark achievement for Kazakhstan, marking their first Olympic figure skating title and first Winter Olympic medal in 32 years.

  • "Mikhail Shaidorov stuns for Olympic figure skating title as Ilia Malinin struggles to 8th place. Kazakhstan has its first-ever Olympic figure skating champion, Mikhail Shaidorov." (Article 2)

  • "Shaidorov, the Kazakhstani, won gold – his country's first Winter Olympic medal in 32 years." (Article 1)

Expert and Media Commentary

The event has been widely described as a surprise and a "shock."

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  • "It's the Olympics." (Ilia Malinin, as quoted in Article 4) - A brief statement acknowledging the high-stakes nature of the event.

  • "The overwhelming favorite entering the free skate, the 21-year-old American instead saw the Olympic title slip away to Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov after an error-strewn performance that will rank among the biggest upsets in modern figure skating history." (Article 5)

  • "When you call yourself the ‘Quad God’, you had better not miss." (Article 9) - Media framing of Malinin's pre-event persona versus his performance.

  • "A competition full of surprises that will be remembered." (Article 10)

Conclusion and Implications

The men's figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics delivered an unexpected outcome. Mikhail Shaidorov capitalized on the errors of pre-event favorite Ilia Malinin to secure a historic gold medal for Kazakhstan. Malinin's performance, marred by falls and uncharacteristic mistakes, relegated him to eighth place, a significant departure from his recent undefeated record. The event underscores the inherent unpredictability of high-stakes competitions and the intense pressure faced by elite athletes on the Olympic stage. The performances of other competitors, including Adam Siao Him Fa and the Japanese skaters, rounded out a dramatic final.

Read More: Ilia Malinin Falls in Olympics; Shaidorov Wins Gold

  • Key Findings:

  • Mikhail Shaidorov won gold in the men's figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

  • Ilia Malinin, the favorite, struggled significantly, finishing eighth.

  • Shaidorov's victory is Kazakhstan's first Olympic figure skating gold.

  • The competition was characterized by numerous errors from top contenders.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who won the men's Olympic figure skating gold medal?
Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan won the gold medal. He skated very well.
Q: What happened to Ilia Malinin?
Ilia Malinin, who was expected to win, made many mistakes during his performance. He finished in eighth place.
Q: Is this a big win for Kazakhstan?
Yes, this is the first time Kazakhstan has won an Olympic gold medal in figure skating. It is also their first Winter Olympic medal in 32 years.
Q: Were there other skaters who did well?
Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato from Japan won the silver and bronze medals.