Ilia Malinin Defeated in Shocking Men’s Skating Final After Two-Year Reign
Ilia Malinin’s reign in men’s figure skating came to an unexpected halt at the recent Olympic final. The American skater, dubbed the “Quad God,” faced a stunning setback, finishing in eighth place after a performance filled with errors.
Shocking Results of the Men’s Skating Final
In a surprising twist, Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov clinched the gold medal, marking a historic triumph for his country. Shaidorov, who was a 100-1 outsider just days prior, delivered a flawless routine, showcasing his skills with five quadruple jumps.
Malinin’s Performance and Ambitions
Malinin began his free skate hoping to make history by landing seven quads, including the challenging quad axel. Unfortunately, he stumbled significantly during his routine. He successfully executed a quad flip but faltered on the axel, only managing a single rotation, and struggled with his lutz and salchow jumps.
- Failed to complete several quad jumps.
- Ended with an eighth-place finish.
- Expressed disbelief and disappointment post-competition.
The Rise of Mikhail Shaidorov
Meanwhile, Shaidorov capitalized on Malinin’s misfortunes. He moved from fifth place after the short program to first, scoring a career-best that stunned the audience. His performance was particularly notable because he achieved this while being nearly 16 points behind Malinin at the start.
Medal Standings
- Gold: Mikhail Shaidorov (Kazakhstan)
- Silver: Yuma Kagiyama (Japan)
- Bronze: Shun Sato (Japan)
This final reflected the unpredictable nature of Olympic figure skating. While Malinin’s aspirations to dominate the event faltered, Shaidorov embraced his role as the underdog, embodying the excitement and drama of the sport.
As the skating world looks ahead to Milano Cortina 2026, Malinin aims to recover and refine his techniques, ensuring that he learns from this unexpected experience.
