Shock Winter Olympics Upset: Malinin Falls, Shaidorov Wins Gold
The world of figure skating witnessed an astonishing turn of events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Ilia Malinin, the American prodigy known as the "Quadruple God," entered the final with a comfortable lead, expected to add an individual gold to his team victory. But the night took a dramatic twist.
Malinin, 21, stumbled twice in his free skate, struggling to land his signature jumps and finishing well off the podium in eighth place. The audience, including legends like Nathan Chen and Simone Biles, watched in stunned silence as the athlete who had dominated 14 consecutive competitions, including the last two world championships, faltered under the weight of Olympic pressure. Malinin himself admitted the nerves were overwhelming and even the most meticulous preparation couldn’t prevent a night he later called “one of the worst” of his career.
This unexpected collapse paved the way for Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan to seize the gold. With a personal best of 291.58 points, Shaidorov gave his country its first-ever Winter Olympic gold in figure skating. Japanese skaters Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato captured silver and bronze, respectively, underscoring the fierce global competition at this level.
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For Malinin, the shock was profound. Leading by over five points after the short program, even a mediocre performance would likely have secured gold. Instead, the pressure of expectations and the intensity of the Olympic spotlight led to mistakes that few could have predicted. His free skate, meant to showcase his extraordinary technical skill, became a humbling reminder of the human side of sport, even for the most talented athletes.
The ripple effects of this event extend beyond one night. Shaidorov’s victory signals the rise of new contenders from nations not traditionally dominant in figure skating. It highlights the unpredictability of the Olympics, where past records can be upended in a single performance. And for Malinin, it is both a setback and a crucial learning moment in a career that has already reached extraordinary heights at a young age.
Meanwhile, Mexican skater Donovan Carrillo repeated his remarkable achievement from four years ago, finishing 22nd in the final, a historic milestone for Mexico in Olympic figure skating.
As the Winter Games continue, the men’s figure skating final stands as a stark reminder: even the most dominant athletes can face unexpected challenges. Every routine counts, every jump carries immense weight and the ice remains an arena where history can be rewritten in moments.
Stay with us for full coverage of the Winter Olympics, as we track the stories of triumph, heartbreak and surprise that define this global stage.
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