Ice shocker: Shaidorov wins Olympic gold for Kazakhstan
Sport
The Kazakh skater claimed the title with a clean program as top favorites faltered.
Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov delivered a surprise victory in the men’s singles event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, beating the pre-competition favorites.
The decisive moment came in the free skate, where five of the six finalists fell. Shaidorov was the only skater to deliver a clean performance, earning him the gold medal. It marked Kazakhstan’s first gold at the Winter Olympics in 32 years.
American star Ilia Malinin, widely considered the main favorite, fell twice in the free program and finished only eighth.
Russia’s sole representative, Petr Gumennik, competing under a neutral flag, delivered a clean skate but finished sixth overall.
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato took silver and bronze, respectively.
The decisive moment came in the free skate, where five of the six finalists fell. Shaidorov was the only skater to deliver a clean performance, earning him the gold medal. It marked Kazakhstan’s first gold at the Winter Olympics in 32 years.
American star Ilia Malinin, widely considered the main favorite, fell twice in the free program and finished only eighth.
Russia’s sole representative, Petr Gumennik, competing under a neutral flag, delivered a clean skate but finished sixth overall.
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato took silver and bronze, respectively.
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