Mikhail Shaidorov: “I hope that my journey as an athlete inspires many children to take up this beautiful sport and see that nothing is impossible. Because I’ve proven it’s possible.”
Big interview with Mikhail Shaidorov.
original source: tengrinews.kz dd. April 7th by Yulia Milova
In an interview with Tengri News, Mikhail Shaidorov speaks about successful season, his newfound fame, Denis Ten’s legacy, and the challenges preventing him from training in his hometown of Almaty. Here’s a translation of his comments.
“The season that changed everything
Q: Hello, Mikhail. First of all, congratulations on your medals! A bronze at the Asian Games, gold at the Four Continents Championships, and silver at the World Championships — all in just the past few months! And before that, you made it to the senior Grand Prix Final. Plus, you performed two record-breaking combinations that no one else in the world does: the triple axel + quadruple toe loop, and the triple axel + euler + quadruple salchow. How have you experienced this breakthrough? Have you had time to realize the scale of what you’ve accomplished?
Mikhail Shaidorov: It’s been an incredible season! I worked very hard on every aspect of my programs — technique, skating skills, choreography — and there’s still a lot to work on because I don’t want to stop here. Now I see that the years of hard work are paying off. Thank you so much to all the specialists, my coaches, my parents, and everyone who’s helped me along the way, as well as the fans who leave comments and messages. I try to read them all, and it’s an incredible source of support for me!
Q: When did you realize you had become famous?
Mikhail Shaidorov: I think the attention really started after the Four Continents Championships, and now even more so after the World Championships. I’m very pleased that my skating draws so many fans. It means a lot to me, and I try to read all the comments and messages people send me on social media. I may not have time to reply to everyone, but I do my best to read everything! The support is unreal. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who draws emotions from my skating!
After the World Championships, news articles started coming out one after another, and within three days, the number of stories kept growing, even though I hadn’t commented on anything. That’s definitely the result of close collaboration with all my coaches and specialists, combined with the immense support from fans. I’m very happy that people enjoy my skating. So many people leave comments!
Q: Tatiana Tarasova, called you the biggest surprise of the championship, saying, “It’s wonderful that this young man was recognized for his talent.” Do you read such evaluations from experts?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Of course! I try to read many comments — from various coaches and other prominent figures. I’m grateful that they recognize my achievements so professionally; it’s very gratifying.
Politics and Figure Skating
Q: Speaking of being “recognized for your talent,” Tarasova may have been referring to the fact that figure skating is, so to speak, a political sport, and our federation doesn’t yet have much influence on the international stage. Does this make things harder for you than for other top skaters?
Mikhail Shaidorov: At this World Championships, being a pre-Olympic event with quotas for the Olympic Games at stake, there were many meetings held by the International Skating Union (ISU). They discussed proposals and amendments to the rules, but there wasn’t a single official representative from Kazakhstan present. It’s very important to have official representation at such events because our sport is complex and undeniably political. I hope that next season things will change for the better because this is so important. It could provide a big push for the development of figure skating in Kazakhstan.
I also hope that my journey as an athlete inspires many children to take up this beautiful sport and see that nothing is impossible. Because I’ve proven it’s possible.
Q: How did you manage your nerves, considering the World Championships was also a qualifying event for the 2026 Olympics?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Taking the ice for the short program was very difficult because this championship was crucial for Olympic qualification. As my coach said, “You can’t win with the short program, but you can lose with it.” The free skate felt a bit calmer because I just wanted to enjoy my performance, the arena, and the audience.
Even being in the hotel on the day of the competition was nerve-wracking. But I calmed myself by building Lego — it helps me organize my thoughts.
Q: How challenging is it to compete amid such fierce competition?
Mikhail Shaidorov: It’s very challenging because I don’t have the same conditions as other top athletes from Japan, the U.S., South Korea, and so on. I hope that after these victories, more attention will be directed toward me, and the necessary conditions will be created so I can continue progressing. This sport is very political, and if you’re not part of a strong federation, you receive different treatment compared to athletes from top countries.
Combinations That No One Else Does
Q: Yet your incredible combinations earn you high scores, even in these circumstances. Where do you find inspiration for them?
Mikhail Shaidorov: In 2021, I started working on the triple axel + quadruple toe loop combination after watching Japanese skater Shoma Uno attempt it. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to land it in competition, but seeing him do it in practice inspired me to attempt it myself. I felt a great motivation to achieve this combination.
It wasn’t until 2024 that I succeeded, as my career faced difficult periods along the way, including illnesses and injuries, which prevented me from performing the combination in competition earlier. But I persevered, and in 2024, I finally reached my goal.
When I qualified for the Grand Prix Final, I became motivated to attempt another combination that no one had done before: a triple axel + euler + quadruple salchow. To this day, I’m the only one performing these combinations. And at the Grand Prix Final, I managed to land it.
Q: Men’s figure skating is one of the most striking individual sports. What, in your opinion, is particularly important about it?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Men’s singles skating is a discipline with intense competition. To stand out, it’s essential to showcase individuality, strong choreography, and, of course, clean skating. The World Championships are a prime example of that.
Inspiration from Yuzuru Hanyu and friendship with Malinin
Q: It’s well-known that you were inspired by Yuzuru Hanyu during your teenage years. Have you had the chance to talk with him? Was there anything about him that you sought to emulate?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Yuzuru Hanyu has been my idol since 2015. I had the chance to see him at the 2021 World Championships. At the time, COVID was still a significant issue. I was sitting in the locker room, going through a tough period because it was my first World Championships. I wasn’t in the best shape due to injuries and wasn’t able to perform as well as I’d hoped.
While sitting in the locker room, I turned my head — and there was my idol, sitting next to me. The emotions I felt at that moment were indescribable. I didn’t even manage to say a word to him; I just stared at him, as if I were in another world.
He became my idol when he was breaking world record after world record, and his performances were absolutely clean, as we call it. His skating was incredibly musical, and at the same time, he executed all technical elements with precision and positive grades of execution. This is the main quality I aim to adopt from him.
Q: A video of you and Ilia Malinin congratulating each other at the World Championships has become popular online. What kind of relationship do you two have? How long has your rivalry existed?
Mikhail Shaidorov: I have a very good relationship with Ilia Malinin. We support each other. Our rivalry goes back some time, I believe to around 2020, at the Junior World Championships. Since then, we’ve been in close competition, pushing men’s singles figure skating forward together.
It’s incredibly rewarding to compete against such an amazing athlete. Each of us is unique, and together we truly love this sport.
Q: Malinin may not hold as many records, but he does have a historic achievement as the first figure skater to land a quadruple axel. Do you aspire to that, or do you feel it’s not necessary to attempt it, considering it’s possible to reach the top without that jump?
Mikhail Shaidorov: I’m not currently setting a goal to perform a quadruple axel. It requires entirely different techniques to execute a jump with 4.5 rotations. I’ve always focused on mastering complex combinations with a triple axel instead, which is why I haven’t retrained my axel technique. As a result, I perform challenging combinations that earn higher scores than a quadruple axel.
Q: You’re 20 years old, a skater who grew up in an independent Kazakhstan. Ilia Malinin is also 20 but represents a completely different system — the American one. Do you feel the differences in the conditions under which you both developed as skaters?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Everything in the U.S. is completely different. They have a long-standing history in figure skating, and it develops there without reliance on government funding. The conditions are excellent, but skating there comes at colossal costs, which fall entirely on the shoulders of parents.
Why he cannot train in Almaty
Q: For instance, you also have to handle organizational matters alongside your athletic pursuits, don’t you?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Yes, this season has been challenging not only in terms of training but in all aspects. The organizational side is still struggling. Throughout the season, I had to travel for visas and search for ice because I still don’t have suitable training conditions in my hometown of Almaty to train properly. By the end of the season, I felt completely burned out because of this. Right now, I’m focused on recovering.
Q: In 2018, Denis Ten competed at the PyeongChang Olympics (Denis Ten won a medal in 2014 in Sochi – ed.), becoming your idol and the first Olympic medalist in figure skating for Kazakhstan. In 2018, you turned 14 and moved to Sochi with your family to improve your training conditions. Does it seem that nothing has changed in figure skating in Kazakhstan in the four years following Ten’s medal?
Mikhail Shaidorov: I personally didn’t experience any change because there was no place for me to train. I asked my parents to give me the opportunity to continue developing, and they helped me —so we went to Sochi to train with Alexei Urmanov. I didn’t move to Sochi; I simply started training there extensively to improve my conditions.
Even now, in my hometown of Almaty, there are still no proper facilities for training. At the same time, I always return to Almaty and try to spend time there because my hometown and my country mean so much to me. They give me energy and strength, and I want to spend the majority of my time in my city.
Q: You are often compared to Denis Ten. How do you feel about such comparisons? In your opinion, how does your skating differ from his?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Of course, it’s an incredible honor when even here in the U.S., many people say that my skating and Denis’s are the best in their eyes. It’s unreal to hear such praise from figure skating fans. But naturally, Denis and I are different people, born in different times. Figure skating has moved to a new era, and both our skating styles and programs are fundamentally different. What matters most is that we represent our country and raise its flag at the biggest events in our sport, no matter the challenges.
Q: Without comfortable training conditions in Kazakhstan, where are you currently practicing?
Mikhail Shaidorov: At the moment, I’m in the U.S., training here. We’re working on new ideas for programs, and I’m also trying to recover after the World Championships. Soon, I’ll fly to Almaty to heal my injuries. I really want to train at home. I hope that after my achievements, where I’ve made the impossible possible, the situation will improve for the better.
Injuries and the absence of a doctor
Q: You mentioned traveling to Almaty to recover from injuries. Throughout the season, you’ve had health issues. Many might not know that even at the World Championships, where you earned a historic silver medal for Kazakhstan, you were competing with an injury. It’s true that your team doesn’t include a doctor?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Yes, I performed at the World Championships with an injury that was bothering me. Unfortunately, I don’t have a specialist by my side who could assist me. For about three years now, I’ve desperately wanted to have a doctor on my team to help me — it’s a necessity for any athlete. Thanks to Vladimir Viktorovich Dzhumanbayev, who has supported me voluntarily for several years, I’m able to work with outstanding specialists, and I’m so grateful to him for that.
While government support this season has improved compared to previous years, I want to sincerely thank everyone who is working to improve conditions. Thank you to the Directorate of Sports Development for their help this season. I think the pace of progress hasn’t fully caught up with my achievements yet, which makes it difficult to address many of the challenges in our sport. Figure skating is complex, and I hope that soon everything will improve.
On nationality and individuality
Q: This season, some media outlets published headlines like “Where Was Mikhail Shaidorov Born?” How often do you have to explain that you’re from Kazakhstan? How do you feel about athlete naturalization, and what’s your relationship with Sofia Samodelkina?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Not often. I try not to pay much attention to it because it’s surprising to me that people would even question whether I was born in Almaty. Almaty is my beloved city, and I return there after every competition. I even prepared for several competitions there this season, despite the limited training facilities, as I’ve mentioned before.
I had never really thought about athlete naturalization until Sofia joined our national team. Within our team, we have excellent relationships — everyone supports one another. Sofia is amazing. She’s showing great skating skills and results. Right now, she needs to build her ranking since this is her first season.
Of course, I want there to be many talented figure skaters in our country, but the main thing is for them to be able to develop their talent right here. I see that our sport is growing, but it’s still slow progress. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Q: What’s the first thing you’ll do when you return home?
Mikhail Shaidorov: As I mentioned earlier, I want to heal the injury that’s been troubling me. I also want to spend time in my hometown of Almaty, walk around, and be with my loved ones, whom I don’t see very often due to competitions and training camps. I just want to relax, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, and savor homemade food.
Q: Following the World Championships, you made Forbes’ list of top figure skaters. Do you have specific plans for how you’ll spend the $50,000 prize? Can you spend earnings on things outside of your sport?
Mikhail Shaidorov: I invest in myself and in everything I need for my craft. I also spend on my hobbies. Of course, I try to buy gifts for my family, but I don’t really have time to buy personal gifts for myself. Many fans give me presents, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
Father and first coach
Q: You come from a family of figure skaters. Your father, Stanislav Shaidorov, is a multiple-time champion of Kazakhstan. What role does he play in your life? Does he still help or offer advice?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Of course, my father has played a massive role in my life. First and foremost, he taught me the basics of figure skating at an early age, and that foundation is the most important thing. Thanks to him, I was able to progress and train under such a prominent figure as Alexei Urmanov.
Even now, my father plays an important role. He supports, criticizes, and advises me. We have great communication with all my coaches and specialists, and my father also offers his professional advice. This teamwork has been very positive for me. I’m incredibly fortunate to have a close-knit team that feels like one big family.
Q: At the age of five, you tried gymnastics but quickly chose figure skating instead. As a fan, do you follow other sports?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Yes, I try to watch other sports. I enjoy watching tennis and basketball, although I don’t always have the time for it. Occasionally, I’ll spend significant time in front of the TV to watch different sports. Watching major competitions is important to me because it shows the professionalism of athletes. It’s valuable to observe other sports and adapt what I learn into my own work.
Kung Fu Panda on the ice
Q: You’ve become a fan favorite, partly thanks to your Panda routine, which charmed everyone. How did you come up with it?
Mikhail Shaidorov: At the beginning of 2024, I decided I wanted to skate in a panda costume. I feel a connection to pandas — they really resonate with me. I wanted to show some parallels with “Kung Fu Panda” because, like the character, I can be clumsy too. The message of the routine is that even if you’re clumsy, you can still become a Dragon Warrior. Nothing is impossible.
This humorous exhibition program tells a story about overcoming challenges in a lighthearted way, showing that even the seemingly impossible can be achieved.
Q: Many girls consider you a “crush.” How much do you feel the attention from the opposite sex?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Yes, there’s a lot of attention. It’s definitely flattering and makes me happy. But at the same time, I don’t have enough time to fully enjoy it because I’m so focused on my work.
Q: For many athletes, simply participating in the Olympics is a dream. Do you feel now that just participating is no longer the ultimate goal for you, that your level of talent and skill sets the bar at winning a medal?
Mikhail Shaidorov: Of course, for me, the goal is to go to the Olympics, enjoy the experience of the biggest event on the planet, and take pleasure in my work above all else. I’m not thinking about medals just yet. I simply want to showcase my skills and talent and to realize them to the fullest extent possible.”
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