Malinin Falters; Shaidorov Springs Upset to Win 2026 Olympic Men’s Figure Skating Gold
The men’s figure skating final at the 2026 Winter Olympics produced one of the most dramatic reversals in recent Games: Ilia Malinin, the overwhelming favorite, crashed out of medal contention to finish eighth, while Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan rose from fifth after the short program to claim gold.
From favorite to fall: Malinin’s free skate unravels
Malinin, 21, entered the free skate on Feb. 13, 2026 (ET) as the frontrunner. Expectations were sky-high — he had already helped his team to gold earlier in the competition and was the reigning world champion. But the long program quickly turned into a nightmare. He fell twice, completed only three of his planned seven quadruple jumps, and downgraded several elements. He left the ice stunned and later summed up the feeling simply: “I blew it. ”
Shaidorov’s composed climb to the top
Mikhail Shaidorov delivered a composed, technically strong free skate that vaulted him from fifth into first overall, finishing with 291. 58 points. The performance represented a breakthrough on the biggest stage for the 2026 Games, and it made him the first Olympic figure skating champion for his country. When the final score registered, Shaidorov covered his mouth in disbelief before celebrating a historic victory.
Podium finishers and final scores
The final standings reflected both errors and opportunism. Yuma Kagiyama of Japan captured the silver with 280. 06 points, earning his second consecutive Olympic silver despite a shaky program. Shun Sato, also of Japan, took bronze with 274. 90 points. Malinin’s total of 264. 49 points left him well off his personal best and off the podium entirely.
Pressure, expectation and the Olympic moment
Malinin’s collapse underscored how the Olympics can magnify pressure even for the most accomplished athletes. He admitted the moment overwhelmed him, saying the intensity of the Games made it difficult to feel where he was in the program and make necessary adjustments. The sports world has seen similar instances where elite competitors falter under expectation, and this final became another high-profile example.
Implications for the sport and moving forward
The result reshuffles the narrative around the men’s field. Shaidorov’s triumph will be studied for its mix of technical risk management and steadiness under pressure. For Malinin, the performance is a painful but instructive chapter: he has Olympic experience now, including team gold, and has time ahead to regroup. The outcome also serves as a reminder that in figure skating, consistency on the day still trumps pedigree and hype.
The Milan-Cortina ice delivered a night of unexpected drama, with a new champion emerging and a heavy favorite learning how fleeting fortune can be at the Olympic level. The fallout from this final will shape rivalries and strategies as the sport looks toward the next world championships and the road to the next Olympic cycle.
