Mikhail Shaidurov became the first in the history of Kazakhstan to win gold at the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy in the men's singles figure skating category.
At the competition, he scored 291.58 points, consisting of 92.94 points in the short program and 198.64 points in the free skate. After the short program held on February 10, the athlete was in fifth place, trailing behind the favorites. Japanese figure skater Yuma Kagiyama won silver with 280.06 points, while his compatriot Shun Sato took bronze with 274.90 points.
The 21-year-old Mikhail performed his free skate to the music of the famous Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen.
This medal became the first for Kazakhstan at the current Olympic Games. Previously, the only Olympic medal in figure skating for the country was the bronze medal won by Denis Ten at the Sochi Games in 2014. Shaidurov's gold medal is also the second in the history of Kazakhstan at the Winter Olympics, the first being won by skier Vladimir Smirnov in 1994.
Mikhail Shaidurov is from Almaty and trains under the guidance of Olympic champion Alexei Urmanov. His achievements include a silver medal at the World Championships, the title of Four Continents Champion, as well as medals from the Grand Prix of China (silver and bronze), a bronze medal at the Asian Games, and the title of Champion of Kazakhstan.
