Milan (Italy) (AFP) – Mikhail Shaidorov said his Olympic men’s figure skating gold proved “nothing is impossible” after shocking US star Ilia Malinin on Friday to make history for Kazakhstan. Shaidorov, the world silver medalist, had been in fifth after Tuesday’s short programme but delivered a technically exceptional free skate to grab gold as Malinin finished off the podium in eighth.
Shaidorov hit five quads and an incredible opening triple Axel-Euler-quadruple Salchow combination which racked up big points and settled his nerves. Surprised by his victory, he paid tribute to Malinin: “He is very important for figure skating, he is the best skater in history. I still can’t believe I’m an Olympic champion.”
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Malinin, a two-time defending world champion and undefeated for over two years, had been leading after the short programme, but he capitulated and ultimately finished 15th in the free skate and eighth overall. The 21-year-old fell twice and singled his attempt at a first quadruple axel in Olympic history with only three clean quads for the skater who hit a record seven on his way to victory in the Grand Prix final where Shaidorov finished sixth.
“When I was watching Ilia skating I was surprised because usually he’s exceptional and I don’t know what exactly happened,” Shaidorov said. “I was rooting for him. When you’re nervous you can make mistakes, as they say in figure skating ‘the ice is slippery.’ Everyone was very nervous and we were all under pressure. I told him (after the competition) it was incredibly difficult for me to share the same ice as him.”
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, second after the short programme, also fell during his routine, but took silver ahead of compatriot Shun Sato who moved up from ninth. France’s Adam Siao Him Fa, who had been third, dropped to seventh. “It was important for me to show good skating and what I had learned,” Shaidorov said.
To calm his nerves, Shaidorov revealed he had assembled Lego before taking to the ice. His free skate to “The Diva Dance” earned him personal best scores of 198.64 for the routine and 291.58 overall.
Such was his relief he collapsed on the ice after his four-minute routine. “I felt relieved this incredible pressure was gone,” he said. “I did everything I could and nothing else depended on me that moment.”
Shaidorov said that his world silver medal had a big impact on the popularity of the sport in his country. “I hope after my victory we’ll have better conditions for young people to join the sport and know that nothing is impossible.” The 21-year-old’s gold was only the second title for Kazakhstan at a Winter Olympics after Vladimir Smirnov won cross-country gold in Lillehammer in 1994. Kazakh figure skater Denis Ten won men’s figure skating bronze at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
And Shaidorov praised Ten, who died aged 25 after being stabbed by car thieves. “Denis Ten influenced me and figure skating in Kazakhstan. He opened the door for us. I hope this medal will open the door for skaters from Kazakhstan to know the sky is the limit. Today the stars aligned for me.”
© 2024 AFP
