2026 Winter Olympics: Mikhail Shaidorov wins men's figure skating gold as 'Quad God' Ilia Malinin crumbles
BBC World
February 13, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The 2026 Winter Olympics men's figure skating event saw a dramatic upset as Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan claimed gold, marking his country's first Olympic gold in over three decades. The highly anticipated performance by Ilia Malinin, known as the 'Quad God,' fell apart under intense pressure. Malinin, who was considered the favorite, stumbled twice during his free skate and finished eighth. Meanwhile, Shaidorov skated flawlessly, securing victory with a clean performance that left both him and the audience in awe.
The competition saw several top contenders struggle
Verticals
worldpolitics
Originally published on BBC World on 2/13/2026