Mikhail Shaidorov delivered the upset of the men’s singles at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, rising from fifth after the short program to claim Olympic gold, and mikhail shaidorov posted a career best total of 291.58 as reported by multiple outlets.
He skated a technically demanding free program, landing five quadruple jumps and earning a free skate score of 198.64 as reported by Kyodo News and others, while performing to The Diva Dance and collapsing to the ice when his routine ended.
The American favorite Ilia Malinin, who led after the short program with 108.16, faltered in the final group and scored 156.33 in the free skate, finishing eighth with a total of 264.49, a result he described to NBC as, "I blew it."
Results And Immediate Context
Shaidorov’s victory secured Kazakhstan its first Olympic figure skating gold, and several outlets including BBC Sport reported it was the country’s first Winter Olympic gold in 32 years.
Yuma Kagiyama of Japan took silver with a total of 280.06, and compatriot Shun Sato earned bronze with 274.90, after a free skate in which many top contenders struggled to execute jumps cleanly.
According to reports, Malinin attempted an unusually difficult program that included plans for up to seven quadruple jumps and an attempted quad axel, the only skater to try that jump in competition on the night, and NBC commentators said jumping mistakes cost him nearly 72 points.
The night produced mixed results for the US team, with Andrew Torgashev placing 12th and Maxim Naumov 20th, while other skaters such as France’s Kevin Aymoz and Italy’s Matteo Rizzo earned notice for artistic performances that engaged the home crowd.
Reactions Sportsmanship And Wider Response
Footage showed Ilia Malinin walking across to congratulate Shaidorov after the medal result, a gesture that Reuters said won praise online and among fans for its composure and class.
Malinin told NBC he was overwhelmed by nerves and negative thoughts as he prepared to start, and he later reflected on the shock of his performance, saying, "There’s no way that just happened" as reported by Flashscore and others.
Media coverage highlighted the dramatic and unpredictable nature of the final group, noting that five of the final six skaters fell, and that Shaidorov was the lone skater to remain upright, converting opportunity into history for Kazakhstan, as reported by The Guardian, BBC Sport, The New York Times and others.
The arena crowd included high-profile spectators such as Nathan Chen, Simone Biles and Jeff Goldblum, and coverage emphasized Shaidorov’s composure under pressure and the event’s status as one of the evening’s defining Olympic moments.
