ROME (WNAM MONITORING): 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.
Shaidorov the leader of the men’s team, stood fifth after the short program with 92.94 points. In the free skate, he earned 198.64 points, bringing his total to 291.58. His program included five quadruple jumps, a layout he had attempted several times earlier in the season without success.
The result lifted him to first place overall and secured the gold medal. Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama finished second with 280.06 points, and Shun Sato placed third with 274.90.
The gold is Kazakhstan’s second in Winter Olympic history since competing as an independent country. The first came in 1994, when cross-country skier Vladimir Smirnov claimed the top podium spot. It is also the nation’s best-ever Olympic result in figure skating.
