21-year old Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan has claimed the men’s figure skating gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking a surprising turn of events. Heavy favorite Ilia Malinin from the USA, expected to dominate, finished in eighth place after experiencing two falls during his free skate routine. This unexpected outcome highlights the unpredictability of Olympic competitions. Shaidorov’s victory stands out as one of the most shocking moments of the Games thus far.
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