Shaidorov Wins Olympic Gold After Malinin's Disastrous Free Skate

The 'Quadruple God' Ilia Malinin fell twice, allowing Kazakhstan's Shaidorov to claim the top spot on the podium.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The American figure skating sensation Ilia Malinin suffered two falls in a disastrous free skate program that caused him to plummet out of medal contention at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Kazakhstan's Shaidorov took advantage of Malinin's mistakes to claim the gold medal.

Why it matters

Malinin was widely expected to dominate the men's figure skating competition after his record-breaking performances in the lead-up to the Olympics. His shocking collapse raises questions about the immense pressure and expectations placed on young athletes in the sport.

The details

Malinin, known as the 'Quadruple God' for his mastery of the most difficult jump in figure skating, stumbled on a quad toe loop and then fell again on a quad Lutz attempt. His mistakes allowed Shaidorov, who skated a clean program, to surge past him and claim the gold medal.

  • Malinin's disastrous free skate took place on February 13, 2026 at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

The players

Ilia Malinin

The American figure skating sensation who was heavily favored to win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Shaidorov

The Kazakhstani figure skater who took advantage of Malinin's mistakes to claim the Olympic gold medal.

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What they’re saying

“I'm devastated. I had been training so hard and felt so confident. I don't know what happened out there.”

— Ilia Malinin (nhregister.com)

What’s next

Malinin will look to rebound at the upcoming World Championships, where he will have a chance to reclaim his status as the top men's figure skater in the world.

The takeaway

Malinin's collapse serves as a reminder of the immense pressure and expectations placed on young athletes in high-profile sports like figure skating, and the importance of maintaining composure under that kind of scrutiny.