Unlikely Kazakh Skater Wins Olympic Gold

Mikhail Shaidorov, an underdog from Kazakhstan, shocks the figure skating world with a stunning upset victory.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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In a stunning upset, 21-year-old Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan won the gold medal in men's figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Shaidorov, who has been overshadowed by American quad jumping phenom Ilia Malinin, delivered a career-best performance to claim the unexpected victory after Malinin faltered under the pressure.

Why it matters

Shaidorov's victory is a remarkable underdog story, as he comes from a country with limited figure skating resources and infrastructure compared to skating powerhouses like the United States, Japan, and South Korea. His triumph highlights the potential for athletes from smaller nations to compete at the highest levels of the sport despite significant challenges.

The details

Shaidorov, who hails from Almaty, Kazakhstan, has had to overcome numerous obstacles throughout his career, including a lack of proper training facilities and resources in his home country. He has had to travel abroad to Russia to train with 1994 Olympic gold medalist Alexei Urmanov. Despite these disadvantages, Shaidorov has steadily improved and emerged as a top contender, winning the 2025 Four Continents Championships and taking silver at the 2025 World Championships behind Malinin.

  • Shaidorov won the men's singles competition at the 2025 Four Continents Championships in South Korea.
  • Shaidorov took the silver medal in the men's singles competition at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston.
  • On February 14, 2026, Shaidorov won the gold medal in the men's figure skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

The players

Mikhail Shaidorov

A 21-year-old figure skater from Almaty, Kazakhstan who won the gold medal in the men's figure skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

Ilia Malinin

An American figure skater who was the heavy favorite to win the gold medal in the men's figure skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but faltered under pressure and finished off the podium.

Stanislav Shaidorov

Mikhail Shaidorov's father, who was a six-time Kazakh national figure skating champion and inspired his son to take up the sport.

Denis Ten

The only other Kazakh Winter Olympic figure skating medalist, who won bronze in 2014 and tragically passed away in 2018.

Alexei Urmanov

The 1994 Olympic gold medalist in figure skating who has coached Mikhail Shaidorov at a training facility in Sochi, Russia.

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What they’re saying

“I don't have the same conditions as other top athletes from Japan, the U.S., South Korea, and so on. This sport is very political, and if you're not part of a strong federation, you receive different treatment compared to athletes from top countries.”

— Mikhail Shaidorov (2025 interview)

“Many journalists from South Korea and China have told me that Denis always dreamed of seeing skaters emerge who could continue to represent Kazakhstan at a high level. I hope he would be proud of what I'm doing now.”

— Mikhail Shaidorov (2025 interview)

“The technical [elements] will get you those points, but it's the polish, the performance, that will get you those medals. So he's just planting seeds right now for his campaign for the next Olympic cycle.”

— Tara Lipinski, NBC Commentator (During the 2026 Olympic broadcast)

“He skated lights out there. I don't know, guys. ... That's going to be interesting.”

— Tara Lipinski, NBC Commentator (During the 2026 Olympic broadcast)

What’s next

Mikhail Shaidorov will be honored with a parade and celebration in his hometown of Almaty, Kazakhstan in the coming weeks to celebrate his historic Olympic gold medal victory.

The takeaway

Shaidorov's triumph is an inspiring story of perseverance and the power of the Olympic spirit. His victory demonstrates that with hard work and determination, athletes from smaller nations can compete and succeed at the highest levels of their sport, even against the might of traditional powerhouses.