Shaidorov Stuns Malinin to Claim Olympic Gold
Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov pulled off a stunning upset Friday, claiming the Olympic men’s figure skating gold medal and leaving American favorite Ilia Malinin off the podium. Shaidorov’s victory marks a historic moment for Kazakhstan in the sport.
Shaidorov, the world silver medalist, delivered a technically brilliant free skate after sitting in fifth place following Tuesday’s short program. He landed five quadruple jumps and an impressive opening triple Axel-Euler-quadruple Salchow combination, securing his place at the top. “Nothing is impossible,” Shaidorov said after his performance.
Malinin, a two-time defending world champion who had been undefeated for over two years, faltered in his free skate, finishing 15th in that segment and eighth overall. He fell twice and struggled with his signature quadruple axel, landing it as a single axel. The 21-year-old had been leading after the short program.
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama secured the silver medal, while compatriot Shun Sato moved up from ninth place to take bronze. France’s Adam Siao Him Fa, who had been in third place, dropped to seventh.
Shaidorov acknowledged Malinin’s impact on the sport, saying, “He is very important for figure skating, he is the best skater in history.” He as well expressed surprise at his own victory, stating, “I still can’t believe I’m an Olympic champion.”
The competition was marked by nerves and pressure, with several skaters struggling to deliver their best performances. Shaidorov noted, “Everyone was very nervous and we were all under pressure. When you’re nervous you can make mistakes, as they say in figure skating ‘the ice is slippery’.”
Malinin expressed his disappointment, stating, “The nerves just were so overwhelming, and especially going into that starting post, I just felt like all the traumatic moments of my life really just started flooding my head … and I just did not handle it.”
