Ilia Malinin Falters, Shaidorov Wins Olympic Figure Skating Gold

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan have delivered a stunning upset in men’s figure skating, as American Ilia Malinin, widely considered the gold medal favorite, finished in eighth place. The victory went to Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, marking his country’s first Winter Olympic gold in 32 years.

Malinin, 21, entered the competition with a significant lead after the short program, boasting a five-point advantage. He had been on an impressive winning streak, having not lost a major competition since November 2023. His reputation was built on being the first skater to successfully land a quadruple axel – a jump requiring four and a half rotations in the air – though he did not attempt this move during the Games.

However, the free skate proved disastrous for the American skater. He fell twice and downgraded several planned jumps, ultimately scoring 156.33 in the free skate and a total of 264.49 points. “I blew it,” Malinin stated after his performance, expressing his disbelief. “That’s honestly the first thing that came to my mind, there’s no way that just happened. I was preparing the whole season, I felt so confident with my programs, so confident with everything.”

Shaidorov, competing in his first Olympics, skated a clean program, landing five quadruple jumps. His final score of 291.58 secured the gold medal. Yuma Kagiyama of Japan took silver with 280.06 points and Shun Sato of Japan earned bronze with 274.90 points.

The shift in momentum was palpable as Shaidorov’s score became clear. He had entered the free skate in fifth place and initially struggled to comprehend his victory. “When I collapsed on the ice after winning, I felt relief,” Shaidorov said. “The nerves were gone. I did all I could.”

The unexpected outcome highlights the intense pressure and mental fortitude required to compete at the Olympic level. Malinin himself acknowledged the psychological impact of the event. “I think it was definitely mental. Just now experiencing that Olympic atmosphere, it’s crazy. It’s not like any other competition. It’s really different…” he explained.

This wasn’t Malinin’s only medal of the Games, however. He was part of the U.S. Team that won gold in the team event the previous week. Despite this prior success, the individual competition proved to be a significant challenge.

The competition was marked by a high number of errors across the board, with five of the final six skaters experiencing falls. This suggests a particularly challenging set of conditions or a heightened level of pressure impacting performance. Shaidorov’s ability to maintain composure and deliver a clean skate in such circumstances proved to be the deciding factor.

The result represents a significant achievement for Kazakhstan, bringing home their first Winter Olympic gold in over three decades. For Malinin, the experience serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of elite sports and the importance of mental resilience. He expressed a determination to regroup and learn from the experience, stating, “All I know is it wasn’t my best skate, and it was definitely something I wasn’t expecting — and it’s done, so I can’t go back and change it, even though I would love to.”