2026 Olympics: Men's Free Skate

[NewLook]

Gumennik had a high number of jumps under review and a high number of points wiped off his slate. I watched his skating for the past year. They were not calling out his jump landings on a domestic level. I knew once he got out on the international stage, they would inevitably be called out. Someone needs to get him to realize he has work to do rather than coddling him with false praise.

Calling on Gumennik jump is invalid. Because it's valid only when a tech panel applies them equally as a fair play. But when one skater gets calls under the microscope, including those he doesn't deserve, like his 3A, then it's not judging but politicking to apply different standards to different skaters to achieve the set in advance result.
Even with what judges gave him, he still had the second TES in FS, yet only 4th. He lost 2+ points to Cha and Gogolev in total because he was sunk in PCS by judges. They gave him lower components than to Malinin. Now tell me why Malinin with that skate was more artistic than Gumennik. No one on sober mind can. Joke of the day.

 

[4everchan]

Anyone, really. Skaters bring up food poisoning quite regulary, and I once listened to a candid interview about the overuse of laxatives by a former high level ice dancer which eventually leads to organ failure. Now I side-eye food poisoning statements. I hope that at some point WADA looks into this.

WADA should look into this. They pinned down the diuretics because they act as masking agents for other substances but yeah.. they should ban laxatives too.

 

[Diana Delafield]

WADA should look into this. They pinned down the diuretics because they act as masking agents for other substances but yeah.. they should ban laxatives too.

I was reading up on Karen Carpenter, because we're working on a program to one of her songs, and her bio said it was an incredibly heavy use of laxatives that killed her. She was working on recovering from her anorexia, but her heart had already been weakened by that habit and gave out on her.

 

[Greengemmonster]

I was reading up on Karen Carpenter, because we're working on a program to one of her songs, and her bio said it was an incredibly heavy use of laxatives that killed her. She was working on recovering from her anorexia, but her heart had already been weakened by that habit and gave out on her.

I wonder how they use it to the point of getting organ failure. Cuz I had food poisoning from eating 6 day old salsa and that was so so so bad. Like you cannot live like that permanently surely!!!

 

[fsfan2480]

You know, I hadn't given much thought to Ilia's physique. But now that some of you mention it, he definitely looks bulkier. Wider shoulders, much bigger glutes and thighs. IMPRESSIVE. 99% of people would kill for that physique (arms, shoulder, leg strength). But in the world of doing 7 quadruple jumps, perhaps the bulk (either intended or nature dictating) did cause miniscule problems technically and, that directly can lead (led) to some mental hesitancy.

 

[reneerose]

The quad replaced what would have been a triple. Had he done nothing instead of a quad then, yes, Yuma wins.

Yes. I was thinking while watching the men's event last Friday, that if Shaidorov didn't have the lights out/definitive number of points (given Ilia's bad skate), then Yuma could have won the OGM by default. I also at the same time thought Yuma most definitely would not have wanted to win that way.

 

[NewLook]

Say what you want, dear. But there is nothing boring about making history on Olympic ice.

Shaidarov didn't make any history. There is nothing special about him neither in TES nor in PCS, which are a joke for his ugliness. He just got lucky. The only who did make a history is Malinin. That was really something.

 

[TallyT]

Shaidarov didn't make any history.

Try telling that to Kazakhstan - though I suggest from a distance, because as far as they are concerned, he definitely did and is quite the hero (and a lot richer than he was a few days ago too )

Personally, I like the fact that a small fed skater won, just as I did when Javier medalled in 2018. And given that the ISU are very into bringing more countries into the sport and growing the smaller ones they have, I wouldn't be surprised if some of TPTB are looking on that slightly brighter side too.

The only who did make a history is Malinin. That was really something.

Yeeeeaaaaah. I rather suspect that he would rather have not made history at all rather than done it that way...

 

[Arigato]

Shaidarov didn't make any history.

Tell that to Olympics.com

Kazakh and Olympic history maker​

Shaidorov's triple Axel-Euler-quad Salchow combination jump made Olympic history at Milano Cortina 2026, as did his victory.

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-2026-who-is-mikhail-shaidorov-top-facts-to-know-about-olympic-figure-skating-champion

 

[Alfa]

The only skater I feel kinda bad for is Jun, his FP really surprised me and was sad he was so close to the podium.

And I'm sorry but I found Yuma's skate terrible with those errors, to me he should have actually been off the podium.

Anyway

 

[NewLook]

Tell that to Olympics.com

Kazakh and Olympic history maker​

Shaidorov's triple Axel-Euler-quad Salchow combination jump made Olympic history at Milano Cortina 2026, as did his victory.

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-2026-who-is-mikhail-shaidorov-top-facts-to-know-about-olympic-figure-skating-champion

Will your history maker come to Wolds? Wanna bet that he will chicken out? He is an average or below average skater who can't count on luck every time.

 

[fsfan2480]

Yeah, I also am a bit surprised that Yuma managed to stay on the podium because I felt NOTHING during that free skate. Usually, he transports me, but the errors made him look cautious and disengaged from the performance aspect. I felt nothing from his body language and face and, I almost always do.

 

[Iskatgal]

Shaidarov didn't make any history. There is nothing special about him neither in TES nor in PCS, which are a joke for his ugliness. He just got lucky. The only who did make a history is Malinin. That was really something.

I agree, Shaidarov had a skate with no falls. He will enjoy his Gold Medal win, but he has not made history. In 1994 Alexi Urmanov won Gold, but Elvis Stojko won Silver. Urmanov did not have the same continued success as Elvis Stojko did after the Olympics.

 

[4everchan]

Yuma had a very big cushion from the SP... I think people need to remember that.
Also, though he didn't skate well, he had a 4 quads program. Jun, though I agree it's unfortunate he wasn't on the podium only had 2 quads in his program. So his base value was much lower. This is the entire problem with the judging system. A not so good quad will still, most of the times, earn more points than a very good triple.

 

[Cindy1983]

First the toilet conversation is so out of place.

Second. I have no doubt that Malinin will be back. If I were (an extremely cautious) betting person, I’d place a bet because I’ll have a greater than 50% shot at collecting on said bet. He’ll learn from this. For my full thoughts, go to page 101 or 102.

Finally, I find it funny that Andrew Torgashev kinda got lost in the shuffle between the other two US skaters. For reasons I mentioned, in an earlier post. We forget that for some athletes, this could be their only shot at being even at the Olympics. This is it. He rose to the occasion, but with little fanfare. He’s kinda like Jan Brady in a way. Marsha, Marsha. Marsha… although without the jealousy.

 

[gsk8]

Will your history maker come to Wolds? Wanna bet that he will chicken out? He is an average or below average skater who can't count on luck every time.

Whether Shaidorov goes to Worlds or not is irrelevant. Stop trollin'.

 

[cruzceleste]

Shaidarov didn't make any history. There is nothing special about him neither in TES nor in PCS, which are a joke for his ugliness. He just got lucky. The only who did make a history is Malinin. That was really something.

Shaidarov did make history.

First gold medal on figure skating for his country, first olympic medal gold in 35 years for his country; pretty historic to me...

 

[ilovebudgies]

This whole thing also shows that it's pretty dang hard to beat Nathan's 2022 Olympics performance. High PCS, 5 quads and TES of 121. 5 quads was also the maximum number done here, but Nathan has textbook jump technique on the 4F and 4L which many do not have.

 

[Jeanie19]

Whether Shaidorov goes to Worlds or not is irrelevant. Stop trollin'.

I think its perfectly fine for him not to go to Worlds. He will go home a hero. Probably lots of public appearances. And there are men from Kazakhstan with tech minimums , so the slot will be filled.

 

[Arigato]

Finally, I find it funny that Andrew Torgashev kinda got lost in the shuffle between the other two US skaters. For reasons I mentioned, in an earlier post. We forget that for some athletes, this could be their only shot at being even at the Olympics. This is it. He rose to the occasion, but with little fanfare. He’s kinda like Jan Brady in a way. Marsha, Marsha. Marsha… although without the jealousy.

I recorded his programs on my DVR. Out of all the U.S skaters, I prefer his skating skills the most - they're superb.