Ilia Malinin, the top contender for the men’s figure skating gold at Milan-Cortina 2026, suffered a stunning setback as he tumbled to eighth place in the free skate, falling twice during his routine.
Malinin’s disappointing performance allowed Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan to capitalize on the opportunity and claim the gold medal, marking a significant upset in the competition.
The unexpected turn of events will have a significant impact on the overall standings, and Malinin will now have to regroup and reassess his strategy for future competitions, as the favourite has fallen short of expectations and will not be standing on the podium.
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