Mikhail Shaidorov Shocks the World: Kazakhstan's First Olympic Figure Skating Gold in 2026

In one of the most stunning upsets in Olympic figure skating history, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan delivered the performance of a lifetime to capture gold in the men's singles event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. The 21-year-old from Almaty toppled overwhelming favorite Ilia Malinin of the United States, securing Kazakhstan's first Olympic figure skating title and the nation's first Winter Olympic gold medal in 32 years .

🏆 The Shocking Result That Rocked the Ice

Friday night at the Milano Ice Skating Arena was supposed to be a coronation. American Ilia Malinin, the two-time reigning world champion nicknamed the "Quad God," entered the free skate in first place after the short program and hadn't lost an international competition since November 2023 . Instead, it became a night of shattered expectations and historic triumph for Kazakhstan.

Shaidorov, sitting fifth after the short program with 92.94 points, delivered a flawless free skate packed with five clean quadruple jumps—a feat he had attempted three times earlier in the season without success . His career-best score of 198.64 points in the free skate gave him a winning total of 291.58 .

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama repeated as Olympic silver medalist with 280.06 points, while his compatriot Shun Sato took bronze with 274.90 . Malinin, meanwhile, unraveled completely, falling twice and managing only 156.33 in the free skate to drop to eighth place overall .

"I blew it," Malinin told NBC afterward. "There's no way that just happened. I was preparing the whole season and was so confident in my program, so confident with everything. I have no words really" .

🇰🇿 A Historic Victory for Kazakhstan

Shaidorov's gold medal represents a watershed moment for Kazakhstani sports. It is Kazakhstan's first Winter Olympic gold medal since 1994, when cross-country skier Vladimir Smirnov claimed the top podium spot . It is also the nation's first Olympic figure skating gold medal in history, building on the bronze medal won by the late Denis Ten at the 2014 Sochi Games .

"I can't believe it," Shaidorov told reporters after his victory. "The whole season I fought with myself. This season was extremely hard. I tried several times in competitions to land five quadruple jumps, but it never worked. Today, everything came together" .

Shaidorov dedicated his medal to all of Kazakhstan, saying: "I've been preparing for this Olympics for a long time. My goal all season was simply to do my work. Now I've achieved it" .

The Denis Ten Connection

Throughout his victory, Shaidorov paid emotional tribute to Denis Ten, the beloved Kazakh skater who won bronze at Sochi 2014 and was tragically killed in 2018 at age 25. Ten is widely credited with advancing figure skating in Kazakhstan and inspiring a generation of young athletes .

"I believe this medal would mean a lot to Denis Ten. He opened the way for us. The road was difficult for him and for me. I want to thank Denis for everything he did for our sport," Shaidorov said .

⛸️ The Golden Performance

Skating second in the final group, Shaidorov delivered a near-flawless free skate to a captivating program set to the Italian song "Confessa" and music from the film The Fifth Element, featuring vocals by Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen . His program included his signature opening combination—a triple Axel into a quadruple Salchow—which earned more than 21 points, the highest-scoring combination of the Games by anyone not named Malinin .

Shaidorov made a bold decision shortly before taking the ice, altering elements of his program in a calculated gamble . It paid off spectacularly.

After his performance, Shaidorov sat rinkside in the "leader's chair," watching one skater after another try to topple him. Italian hope Daniel Grassl couldn't. France's Adam Siao Him Fa couldn't. One by one, they fell short. When Kagiyama stumbled and Malinin's score came in, Shaidorov clasped his hands over his face in disbelief .

"When I realised I won the bronze, I was the happiest person on that day and in the world," Shaidorov told Olympics.com. "But when I won the silver, my head exploded. And then when I won the gold, it was something incredible for me. That means everything that I was working towards was not in vain" .

📊 Final Standings: Men's Figure Skating 2026

Rank	Athlete	Country	Total Points
🥇 Gold	Mikhail Shaidorov	Kazakhstan	291.58
🥈 Silver	Yuma Kagiyama	Japan	280.06
🥉 Bronze	Shun Sato	Japan	274.90
4th	Adam Siao Him Fa	France	—
5th	Daniel Grassl	Italy	—
8th	Ilia Malinin	United States	264.49

🎙️ Reaction from Around the World

Shaidorov's victory stunned the international media and figure skating world.

The New York Times described it as "one of the biggest upsets in Olympic figure skating history," noting that Shaidorov "delivered the skate of his life when it mattered most" .

The Guardian wrote: "For nearly two years, Ilia Malinin made men's figure skating feel inevitable. On Friday night in Milan, inevitability gave way to something far rarer: Mikhail Shaidorov" .

BBC Sport observed: "In an event defined by pressure and collapse, Shaidorov was the exception. While the 'Quad God' proved mortal, a new champion emerged—steady, unshaken, and golden" .

Even Malinin, despite his devastation, embraced Shaidorov after the competition and offered congratulations. "We're like a big family," Malinin said .

🇰🇿 National Celebration and Recognition

Back in Kazakhstan, celebrations erupted. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Shaidorov on his historic achievement, calling it a landmark moment for the nation. He awarded the skater the Order of Barys, second degree, one of Kazakhstan's highest state honors .

Gennady Golovkin, President of Kazakhstan's National Olympic Committee and legendary boxer, also congratulated Shaidorov: "This victory is an outstanding event for Kazakhstan's figure skating and for all domestic sports. After 32 years at the Winter Olympic Games, the national anthem was played once again, and the flag of our country was raised" .

Shaidorov is also eligible for a $250,000 prize from the Kazakh government for his Olympic gold medal, with silver and bronze medalists receiving $150,000 and $75,000 respectively .

🌟 Who Is Mikhail Shaidorov?

For those unfamiliar with the new Olympic champion, here's what you need to know:

Age: 21 years old
Hometown: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Coach: Alexei Urmanov, the 1994 Olympic champion in men's singles
Career highlights before 2026: Medals at ISU Challenger Series events, Grand Prix competitions, and success in junior ranks
Olympic achievement: First Kazakh figure skater to win Olympic gold, second Kazakh figure skater to win any Olympic medal (after Denis Ten's 2014 bronze)

Before Friday, Shaidorov had never been considered a serious favorite for Olympic gold. His victory transforms him from an outside contender into a national hero and global figure skating star.

🧊 What It Means for the Future

Shaidorov hopes his victory will inspire a new generation of skaters in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia.

"It means a lot for me and for my country because I really want to see our sport grow in Kazakhstan," he said. "I will do everything to make that happen and I hope that little kids will sign up for this sport, that there will be conditions that encourage that, and that this medal will bring a lot of motivation to young athletes who will now know that there are no limits at all" .

His coach, Alexei Urmanov, knows something about Olympic glory—the Russian legend won gold in 1994, the same year Kazakhstan claimed its last Winter Olympic title before Shaidorov's victory .

📺 How to Watch Replays

For fans who missed the historic performance, replays of Shaidorov's gold medal-winning free skate are available on:

Peacock (United States)
NBCOlympics.com
CBC Gem (Canada)
Discovery+/Eurosport (Europe)
Olympics.com official channel

Mikhail Shaidorov's name is now etched in Olympic history. On a night when the "Quad God" stumbled, a young man from Almaty soared—and brought his nation to its feet after 32 years of waiting.