No Shaidorov thread here? We have to change it.

[Ananas Astra]

Great skater, even better Olympic Champion and just a sweet boy who loves Kung Fu Panda.

Let's hear it for Mikhail Shaidorov!

 

[Taso]

Three cheers and huge congrats! We think he's the sweetest kid in our home

 

[Ananas Astra]

Seriously, I think his win might be my favorite Olympic story in forever.
I love Underdog wins, but he did it in an absolutely epic way.

 

[attyfan]

Is he the first OGM to be coached by an OGM?

 

[Taso]

Is he the first OGM to be coached by an OGM?

Linichuk & Karponosov coached Grischuk & Platov.

 

[attyfan]

Linichuk & Karponosov coached Grischuk & Platov.

Thanks.

 

[Vagabond]

Is he the first OGM to be coached by an OGM?

Gillis Grafström was one of Sonia Henie's coaches. Although Swedish, he was based in Germany from 1925 onward, and Henie visited him there from her home in Norway for training sessions.

 

[rfisher]

I was so happy for him, Urmanov and Oksana Ten as well. If not for her efforts to bring funding to KAZ after Denis' death, Shaidorov might never have had a chance to skate at the Olympics. She recruited Urmanov and the rest is history. I hope this medal will help them to continue to build a program and find funding.

 

[attyfan]

Gillis Grafström was one of Sonia Henie's coaches. Although Swedish, he was based in Germany from 1925 onward, and Henie visited him there from her home in Norway for training sessions.

Thanks.

 

[Ananas Astra]

I was so happy for him, Urmanov and Oksana Ten as well. If not for her efforts to bring funding to KAZ after Denis' death, Shaidorov might never have had a chance to skate at the Olympics. She recruited Urmanov and the rest is history. I hope this medal will help them to continue to build a program and find funding.

I didn't know that Mama Ten was so invested in everything after her son was taken from her in the most brutal way.
What a woman!

I love how Denis' legacy is going on and I hope for more successful Kazakh skaters.

 

[briancoogaert]

What an amazing jumper. And he seems to be a sweet boy !

 

[Cachoo]

A sweetheart and to see his shock as the night unfolded was something I won’t forget.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

He is the sweetest boy. Congratulations to him!

 

[Sylvia]

Would anyone with a WaPo subscription like to share a gift link to Robert Samuels' article? https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...khail-shaidorov-figure-skating-gold-olympics/

 

[libecha]

Would anyone with a WaPo subscription like to share a gift link to Robert Samuels' article? https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...khail-shaidorov-figure-skating-gold-olympics/

Here you go: https://wapo.st/3MA29Ux

 

[MsZem]

Is he the first OGM to be coached by an OGM?

Linichuk & Karponosov coached Grischuk & Platov.

Gillis Grafström was one of Sonia Henie's coaches. Although Swedish, he was based in Germany from 1925 onward, and Henie visited him there from her home in Norway for training sessions.

Also Hongbo Zhao coaching Sui and Han.

Anyway, Shaidorov was fabulous at the Olympics, both in the competitive portion and in the gala. Not everyone can jump properly in a panda costume!

 

[Sylvia]

Thank you @libecha!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026419502611624315

ETA that Shaidorov is not listed in the Worlds entries that were published today.

 

[ostile17]

Do we know why he's not doing Worlds?

 

[Taso]

Do we know why he's not doing Worlds?

Hopefully just busy being a national hero for a hot minute and not having time to train

 

[Sylvia]

Olympics.com article by Lena Smirnova - "I’ve tried to stay a kid": Mikhail Shairodov recounts how letting his inner child loose helped him win Olympic figure skating gold (24 February 2026): https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-...ympic-figure-skating-gold-interview-exclusive
(His The Diva Dance FS, Kung Fu Panda EX & post-gold interview videos all are embedded in this article.)

 

[Sylvia]

2 posts in Japanese by Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev (Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Singapore 2008-2016, to Japan 2016-2021, to Greece 2021-2024, from December 2024 to Japan):

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026631533495464027

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan awarded the Second-Class "Barys" Order to athlete Mikhail Shaidorov, who won the gold medal, in recognition of his outstanding achievements at the 25th Winter Olympics. The coaching staff was also honored with national recognition.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026843449392247007

Yesterday, after posting about the awarding of honors to Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov , I received many questions regarding the "Barys" Order .
The "Barys" Order is a prestigious national decoration awarded for outstanding contributions to the motherland. "Barys" means "snow leopard" in Japanese . In Kazakh culture, the snow leopard is regarded as a totemic figure, symbolizing nobility and independence.
Additionally, in 2011, it served as the official mascot for the 7th Asian Winter Games held in Kazakhstan.
Thank you for your interest.

 

[Calebpuppydad]

What an amazing jumper. And he seems to be a sweet boy !

He should get a PCS boost for humble likeability. I loved when Urmanov told him it was okay to smile after winning gold!

 

[withwings]

Indeed, he seems to be humble at his heart and mind with so called life- giving humbleness.
I am impressed him respectfully stating that he feels insulted at the bottom of his soul when he is called Russian ( by Russian media) when he is not. Also, in one interview he said that his dream always has been to let Kazakhstan flag to fly, to be seen on the world stage and it happened in Olympics and the part of that dream is more youth to be interested in figure skating in Kazakhstan.

 

[Sylvia]

"I’ve tried to stay a kid": Mikhail Shaidorov recounts how letting his inner child loose helped him win Figure Skating gold by Lena Smirnova for Olympics.com (Feb. 24, 2026; includes his FS, Kung Fu Panda EX & interview videos): https://olympics.com/en/milano-cort...ympic-figure-skating-gold-interview-exclusive

 

[Ananas Astra]

How can you not love him?
I rewatched Denis Ten's FS from 2015 4CCs and their reaction is almost identical.
Such sweethearts, both of them.

 

[Icetalavista]

another thing about his win: he and Urmanov created their success far from the competitive fishbowls of Moscow and St Petersburg. Good to give Russia a view of creating great skaters without the insane pressure of certain coaches...

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Well deserved win! Misha is a sweet and humble champion! I'm sad that he's not going to Worlds but it seems that newly crowned Olympic champions often find it difficult to regroup quickly after such heights as the Olympics!

I hope that Denis Ten, God Rest his sweet soul, was smiling down at Shaidorov! And I hope that Misha's country rewards him with an apartment, a house, or whatever he and his loved ones need!