Shocking Upset at Milan Olympics: ‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin Crashes to 8th, Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov Claims Historic Gold
By Sports Desk | Milan, Italy
In a stunning turn of events at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, American figure skating prodigy Ilia Malinin, dubbed the “Quad God,” suffered a catastrophic collapse in the men’s free skate, plummeting from gold medal favorite to eighth place and handing Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov his nation’s first-ever Olympic figure skating gold.[1][3][5]
The 21-year-old Malinin entered the free skate on Friday night with a five-point lead after a strong short program where he scored 108.16, landing two quad jumps and his signature backflip and “raspberry twist.”[1] All he needed was a solid, even dialed-back performance to secure individual gold atop the team gold he had already helped the U.S. clinch earlier in the Games.[2][5]
Instead, the pressure of the Olympic spotlight proved overwhelming. Malinin bailed on his famed quad axel mid-air for his second jump and unraveled completely, falling twice—once on a quad lutz that derailed a planned quad lutz-triple toe loop combination, and again on a downgraded double salchow in what should have been a quad salchow-triple axel sequence.[1][5] He also only doubled a planned quad loop, costing him crucial points and nearly 72 points in jumping mistakes alone.[4]
“I blew it,” Malinin admitted moments after stepping off the ice, fighting back tears as a star-packed crowd, including reigning champion Nathan Chen and gymnast Simone Biles, watched in stunned silence.[1][5] He later explained that traumatic moments and negative thoughts flooded his mind under the weight of expectations, marking a rare unraveling for the skater who had dominated with an unbeaten streak over two years and back-to-back world championships.[1][2]
Shaidorov, starting the free skate in sixth place, capitalized on the chaos. The Kazakh skater delivered a career-best 291.58 points with a memorable performance, including a triple axel-half loop-quad salchow opener that highlighted his jumping prowess.[1][3][4] Flanked by Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama (silver, his second straight Olympic medal) and teammate Shun Sato (bronze), Shaidorov stood atop the podium, fulfilling his lifelong dream. “This is why I wake up and go to training every day,” he told reporters.[1]
Malinin showed grace in defeat, hugging Shaidorov and whispering, “You deserve it,” before facing a barrage of questions from global media.[2] His troubles weren’t isolated; earlier in the team event short program, he was outscored by Kagiyama, hinting at mounting Olympic pressure.[5] To cope, Malinin skipped his final practice before the individual short program, opting to relax elsewhere, a strategy that initially worked.[1]
The ‘Olympic Curse’ Strikes the Favorite
Skaters before Malinin faced their own woes on the shared speedskating ice surface, criticized for its quality. Italy’s Daniel Grassl and France’s Adam Siao Him Fa crashed out of contention, setting the stage for Malinin—yet he faltered when it mattered most.[2] Observers noted the irony: the athlete who pioneered the quad axel and made impossibly difficult jumps look effortless succumbed to mental hurdles on the biggest stage.[4][6]
“The pressure on his shoulders for this Olympics was tremendous.”
— NBC Sports commentary[4]
Despite the individual heartbreak, Malinin contributed decisively to the U.S. team gold, rebounding in the team free skate without attempting his quad axel.[1] Looking ahead, with Chen in the stands, Malinin drew inspiration from past Olympians who faltered but returned stronger, setting his sights on future competitions.[2]
Shaidorov’s Breakthrough for Kazakhstan
For Shaidorov, the victory marked a historic milestone. Kazakhstan celebrated its first figure skating Olympic gold, a testament to the skater’s resilience after entering the final in sixth.[3][4] His clean execution amid others’ errors propelled him to the top, underscoring the fine margins in elite figure skating.
| Place | Skater | Country | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikhail Shaidorov | Kazakhstan | 291.58 |
| 2 | Yuma Kagiyama | Japan | – |
| 3 | Shun Sato | Japan | – |
| 8 | Ilia Malinin | USA | – |
This Olympic men’s figure skating event will be remembered as much for Malinin’s shocking downfall as Shaidorov’s rise, highlighting the mental fortitude required at the pinnacle of the sport. As the Milan Cortina Games continue, all eyes remain on the unpredictable ice.
Additional reporting from ESPN, NBC Olympics, and AP News.