Milan (Italy) (AFP) - Olympic champion after an incredible free program on Friday in Milan, Kazakh figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov admitted this Sunday that he could not even have imagined the possibility of leaving these Games with the gold medal.

First modification: 02/15/2026 - 16:39

On Friday, the huge favorite, the American Ilia Malinin, sank under the pressure and could only finish eighth when everyone assumed that the title was his.

Shaidorov, with the performance of his life, achieved the second winter Olympic gold in the history of his country, despite general perplexity.

"This medal is for all of Kazakhstan," he says with a broad smile in an interview with AFP.

Question: Two days after what you experienced on Friday, have you digested that you are an Olympic champion?

Answer: "I have practically not slept. I only slept for two hours that day and I woke up with many surprises. In this time a lot has happened, this is a celebration for all of Kazakhstan. I have fulfilled the dream of my life: to give my country a reason to celebrate. I have achieved it, I have become an Olympic champion. This is probably more than I could have dreamed of. The main thing I have done is work. I really like to work and I understand that in the future I will have to work even more."

Q: Before the Games it seemed unthinkable that the title would escape Malinin. Did you come to the competition thinking that gold was possible or just fighting for a place on the podium?

A: "When I came to the Olympic Games, I didn't think about the medals. I just wanted to do well, provide a clean program. But at best, I could think about the bronze medal. I told myself that, if everything went well, I could aspire to bronze. I could never have imagined gold."

Q: You were fifth after the short program, almost ten points off the virtual podium, were you very disappointed at that moment?

A: "After the short program I felt very good because I had done everything I could. For me, fifth place was very good, I had remained in the strongest group and was skating in second position in that group. I simply wanted to do my job, regardless of the result. I knew that by doing well, I could get on the podium and take the bronze medal, which for me was already the maximum because I was not thinking about the gold medal."

Hanyu as inspiration

Q: Were you relaxed during the competition?

A: "Before the short program and before the free program, I spent some time assembling Lego pieces. That relaxes me a lot and helps me focus. But the day before the free program was very difficult for me, my head wouldn't stop thinking."

Q: How did you get started in figure skating?

A: "At first, my father put me on skates and that's how I started. I didn't like it, so I decided to do gymnastics. Then, for I don't know what reason, something clicked in me and I decided that I should go back to skating. Since then, I don't think I have left the ice. I just skated and skated, I enjoyed it. I like it a lot and that's the most important thing. Then, when I was 13, I saw Yuzuru Hanyu (Olympic champion in 2014 and 2018) and, for me, that was an incredible source of motivation. That has led me here."

Q: Were you already famous in Kazakhstan before the Games or do you hope to become a star in the country?

A: "Actually, many people already knew me in Kazakhstan. But now I think I won't even be able to go out on the street without being recognized. This is an incredible pride, especially for the country. I have worked a lot to get here. Many people, all the people around me, loved it and trusted it. This is an immense pride for the country and I think our figure skating deserves it. This medal is for all of Kazakhstan."

© 2026 AFP

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