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MNN Global · February 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Kazakhstan’s Shaidorov wins men’s figure skating gold at 2026 Olympics

What happened: Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan claimed the men's figure skating gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics after favourite Ilia Malinin of the USA fell twice in his free skate, finishing eighth.

Why it matters:

  • Shaidorov's unexpected victory is one of the biggest surprises of the Games so far.
  • The result affects the standings and highlights the unpredictability in Olympic figure skating.

MNN Take: This outcome shows how performance under pressure can dramatically change competition results, emphasising the high stakes in Olympic sports.

Sources: BBC Sport