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The men’s figure skating final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered one of the biggest upsets of the Games. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov stunned the field by capturing gold, capitalizing on a dramatic collapse from several top contenders — including heavy favourite Ilia Malinin.
Underdog Triumphs on Olympic Stage
Shaidorov, the 2025 world silver medallist, entered the free skate in fifth place but produced the performance of his life when it mattered most. His emotionally charged program earned a personal best and vaulted him to the top of the podium.
After the medal ceremony, Shaidorov said he focused simply on delivering his best skating and showcasing the growth of the sport in Kazakhstan. The victory marks a historic milestone: Kazakhstan’s first Olympic gold in figure skating and only its second medal overall, following Denis Ten’s bronze in 2014.
Malinin Falters in Final Skate
Much of the spotlight entering the final was on American star Ilia Malinin, who held a narrow lead after the short program. But the pressure of his Olympic debut proved overwhelming.
Malinin’s free skate unraveled with a string of rare mistakes. A popped quadruple axel, downgraded jumps, and multiple falls resulted in his lowest free skate score in years. He ultimately tumbled down the standings to eighth place.
Speaking after the skate, Malinin admitted he may have been overconfident and acknowledged that the Olympic atmosphere was unlike anything he had experienced before.
Japanese Duo Secures Podium Spots
Japan emerged as the most consistent team of the night. Yuma Kagiyama delivered a flawed but resilient performance to secure silver, repeating his result from the previous Olympics. His teammate Shun Sato thrilled the crowd with a powerful free skate that earned him bronze.
The double podium finish highlighted Japan’s dominance in the discipline despite the night’s chaos.
Final Top 10 Results
- Mikhail Shaidorov (Kazakhstan) – 291.58
- Yuma Kagiyama (Japan) – 280.06
- Shun Sato (Japan) – 274.90
- Jun-Hwan Cha (South Korea) – 273.92
- Stephen Gogolev (Canada) – 273.78
- Petr Gumennik (AIN) – 271.21
- Adam Siao Him Fa (France) – 269.27
- Ilia Malinin (USA) – 264.49
- Daniel Grassl (Italy) – 263.71
- Nika Egadze (Georgia) – 260.27
Emotional Performances Beyond the Podium
American Maxim Naumov delivered one of the most emotional moments of the competition. Skating in his Olympic debut just over a year after losing both parents in a plane crash, he battled through multiple falls but finished among the world’s top 24. He later dedicated the performance to his late parents.
Andrew Torgashev, the other U.S. finalist, landed a personal-best free skate despite a stumble on one quad and finished 12th overall.
Chaos in the Final Group
As the final group took the ice, the standings remained wide open.
Shun Sato initially seized the lead with a high-energy skate. Shaidorov followed with a technically brilliant program that pushed him into first place, though he still had to wait through the final contenders.
Italy’s Daniel Grassl opened strongly but faltered mid-program, while France’s Adam Siao Him Fa saw his medal hopes vanish after repeated falls.
Kagiyama, typically known for consistency, also struggled with early errors but managed to stay on the podium thanks to his earlier scores.
A Night of Upsets
By the time Malinin stepped onto the ice last, gold appeared within reach. But a cascade of mistakes erased his advantage and reshaped the entire podium.
In a show of sportsmanship, Malinin congratulated Shaidorov immediately after the final scores were announced, a fitting end to one of the most unpredictable nights in Olympic figure skating history.
