Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Mikhail Shaidorov, a graduate of the RUDN University Sochi Institute, won the gold medal in men's singles figure skating at the Milan Olympics. He competed for Kazakhstan.
After the short program, he was only fifth in the competition. However, in his free skate to the music from the film "The Fifth Element," Mikhail added a fifth jump—a flip—to his previously announced four quadruple jumps and successfully completed the program. Ultimately, he took first place and became the Olympic champion.
Congratulations from RUDN University
The university staff congratulates Mikhail on his victory.
"RUDN's greatest asset is its alumni: among them are presidents, ministers, and Olympic champions. Mikhail became yet another Olympic champion among the university's alumni; he graduated from the Sochi branch. On behalf of the large RUDN family, we congratulate Mikhail on his Olympic gold; we are proud of him," said Oleg Yastrebov, Rector of RUDN University.
"The Olympic legacy in action. In 2024, Mikhail graduated from vocational school with a degree in Physical Education and received his diploma. He studied diligently for all four years, attending all classes and lectures. He also trained with the renowned 1994 Russian Olympic champion, Alexei Urmanov, on our Olympic ice rink, which was built for the 2014 Sochi Olympics," says Kristina Mrug, Deputy Director of Strategic Communications at the RUDN University Sochi Institute.
Kristina Vladimirovna noted that both students and teachers watched Shaidorov's performance in Milan.
"The entire institute—both vocational and higher education—were rooting for Misha. When we realized he wasn't in the top five after the last Grand Prix, we watched just to cheer for him. No one expected to see this Olympic medal. People in the dorms said our staff were crying. We're proud of our graduate; we have a new Olympic champion," says Kristina Mrug.
About the Olympic champion
A year ago, Mikhail became the first figure skater in world history to land a quadruple toe loop combination with his second jump. Shaidorov won the first medal for the Kazakhstan team at these Games. He is 21 years old and continues to train under Alexey Urmanov. In 2025, he won silver at the World Championships.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.