In one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo, Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov won the gold medal. The gold for Shaidorov was completely unexpected. This was Kazakhstan’s first medal of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Mikhail Shaidorov became Kazakhstan’s first Olympic gold medallist in men’s figure skating after triumphing at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026. View on euronews

Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan's gold medal in men's free skate stunned everyone — including himself. Here's what he had to say. (AP photo)

ROME — Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov won gold in men’s figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy, delivering a decisive free skate to secure the country’s second Winter Olympic title as an independent nation and first Olympic gold in figure skating. His victory also marked Kazakhstan’s first Olympic gold in figure skating.

Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama delivered a strong message about Ilia Malinin following his disappointing Olympic performance.

Ilia Malinin saw his Olympic dream unravel after two costly falls during the men’s figure skating final, leaving the American star without a medal. He finished eighth. Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won the gold medal with 291.

Kazakh figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov says he is still spinning in disbelief after pulling off the biggest shock of the Winter Olympics so far. Shaidorov said as a young child he was a reluctant skater,

Ilia Malinin stumbled under Olympic pressure as underdog Mikhail Shaidorov captured gold in a shocking Olympic men’s figure skating final at Milano-Cortina 2026.

The American superstar handled his loss with grace.