Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won the men’s free skate (and overall men’s figure skating event) at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.

Quick Scoop: What Happened?

  • Gold went to Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) , who topped the standings in the men’s free skate and secured the Olympic title.
  • His total score was reported as 291.58, with a strong free skate that held up under pressure as others faltered.
  • Yuma Kagiyama of Japan took silver, while Shun Sato, also from Japan, earned bronze.
  • Ilia Malinin, heavily hyped going into the event, made multiple mistakes in the free skate and dropped to eighth overall despite expectations of a “Quad God” showdown.

Why It’s Trending Now

  • The result is being talked about as a major upset, since many expected Malinin to dominate the free skate with his high-difficulty quads.
  • Coverage highlights that the final flight saw several falls from the top contenders, which opened the door for Shaidorov’s more stable performance to win.
  • Forum and social media discussions are full of reactions to the pressure, the dramatic errors in the last group, and Shaidorov’s breakthrough for Kazakhstan.

In fan discussions, people describe this free skate as one of the most shocking Olympic men’s events in recent years, with emotions swinging from disbelief over the mistakes to excitement for Shaidorov’s win.

Key Facts at a Glance

  • Event: Men’s figure skating free skate, Winter Olympics 2026, Milano-Cortina.
  • Winner: Mikhail Shaidorov (Kazakhstan).
  • Podium:
    1. Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) – gold.
2. Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) – silver.

3. Shun Sato (JPN) – bronze.

TL;DR: Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won the men’s free skate and the men’s figure skating gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in a dramatic event where several favorites, including Ilia Malinin, made costly errors.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.