The most recent major “men’s ice skating championship” that has just concluded at the international level is the men’s singles figure skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina, and that title was won by Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, who took Olympic gold ahead of U.S. star Ilia Malinin.

Quick Scoop: Who Won?

If by “men’s ice skating championship” you mean the 2026 Olympic men’s singles figure skating event (the one dominating today’s sports headlines), the champion is Mikhail Shaidorov (Kazakhstan).

He upset favorite Ilia Malinin, who had come in as a top contender after dominating U.S. championships in recent years.

Shaidorov’s win is being described as a huge, historic result for Kazakhstan, as the country is not traditionally a powerhouse in men’s figure skating.

Why This Is a Big Deal

  • A heavily favored skater (Malinin) had multiple falls in the free skate, which opened the door for Shaidorov.
  • Shaidorov delivered the cleaner performance under Olympic pressure, which is exactly where upsets usually happen in figure skating.
  • This shifts the narrative in the sport: instead of a U.S. coronation, it becomes a breakthrough gold for Kazakhstan.

Other “Men’s Championships” You Might Mean

Because “men’s ice skating championship” is a bit broad, here are two other very recent men’s titles that often get mixed into the discussion:

  • 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships (men’s singles): Ilia Malinin won his fourth straight U.S. men’s title, dominating the national field with a massive points lead.
  • 2025 World Championships (men’s singles): Ilia Malinin also became men’s world champion in 2025, further cementing his status as a top favorite heading into Milan 2026.

Recent Champions At a Glance

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Event Season/Year Men’s champion Notes
Winter Olympics – Men’s singles 2026 Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) Won gold after Malinin’s error-filled free skate.
U.S. Championships – Men’s singles 2026 Ilia Malinin (USA) Fourth consecutive national title, huge scoring margin.
World Championships – Men’s singles 2025 Ilia Malinin (USA) First world title, confirmed him as Olympic favorite.

Mini Story: From Favorite to Underdog Hero

Going into Milan 2026, Ilia Malinin looked like the heir to Nathan Chen: multiple U.S. titles, a world championship, and some of the hardest technical content ever landed in competition. But on Olympic ice, the pressure flipped the script. A couple of costly falls turned what was expected to be a coronation into an opening, and Mikhail Shaidorov seized it with a steadier, composed program when it mattered most.

Fans on forums and social platforms are now split between heartbreak for Malinin and excitement for Shaidorov’s breakthrough, with many calling it one of the most dramatic men’s free skates of this Olympic cycle.

TL;DR:

  • Olympic men’s champion (2026): Mikhail Shaidorov (Kazakhstan).
  • Recent U.S. and world titles: Ilia Malinin has dominated those, but was upset at the Olympics.

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