Russian Skater Shaidorov Wins Olympic Gold After Malinin's Stumbles

American phenom Ilia Malinin falls twice in free skate, dropping out of medal contention

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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In a shocking turn of events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Russian figure skater Artur Shaidorov captured the gold medal after American sensation Ilia Malinin, known as the "Quad God," suffered two falls during his free skate program, causing him to plummet out of medal contention.

Why it matters

Malinin was widely expected to win gold, having dominated the men's figure skating circuit in the lead-up to the Olympics. His shocking collapse opens the door for other skaters to claim the top prize and shakes up the Olympic figure skating hierarchy.

The details

Malinin, 18, stumbled on a quadruple axel attempt early in his program and then fell again later on another jumping pass. The mistakes proved costly, as he finished off the podium. Meanwhile, Shaidorov, the 22-year-old Russian, delivered a clean and technically difficult routine to claim the Olympic title.

  • Malinin's first fall occurred early in his free skate program.
  • Malinin's second fall happened later in his routine.

The players

Ilia Malinin

An 18-year-old American figure skater who was the heavy favorite to win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Artur Shaidorov

A 22-year-old Russian figure skater who won the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics after Malinin's collapse.

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What they’re saying

“I'm still in shock. I had such high hopes and to have it end like this is devastating.”

— Ilia Malinin (myplainview.com)

“I just tried to stay focused on my own program and not get caught up in the hype around Malinin. In the end, that composure paid off for me.”

— Artur Shaidorov (myplainview.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.

The takeaway

This unexpected result at the Olympics serves as a reminder that even the most dominant athletes can falter on the biggest stage, highlighting the unpredictability and drama that makes figure skating such a captivating sport.