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Shaidorov Takes Top Spot as Malinin Falters

Ilia Malinin, a top contender for the men’s figure skating title, experienced a disappointing performance on the ice.

Prior to the men's figure skating event at Milan-Cortina 2026, Ilia Malinin had already secured a team event gold medal with the USA.

Ilia Malinin, heavily favored to win the men's figure skating gold at Milan-Cortina 2026, experienced a disastrous performance, falling twice and ultimately missing out on a medal.

The men's free skate was marked by struggles from top contenders, with five of the final six athletes falling during their routines.

Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan capitalized on the mistakes of others, delivering a flawless performance to claim gold – Kazakhstan's first Winter Olympic medal in 32 years.

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan, considered Malinin's closest competitor for gold, fell on a quad flip and settled for silver, while his compatriot Shun Sato took bronze.

The USA's Ilia Malinin finished eighth after a disappointing free skate, visibly struggling under the pressure.

At 21 years old, Malinin was competing in his first Olympics, having earned the nickname 'Quad God' for being the only skater to successfully land the quadruple axel.

The quadruple axel requires a skater to jump, spin four and a half times in the air, and land cleanly on one foot.

However, Malinin did not attempt the quadruple axel during the Games, despite having it listed in his planned elements, and instead only performed a single axel, which drew disappointment from the crowd.

Malinin's attempted quad lutz ended in a fall, a moment that stunned the Olympics audience.

The unexpected fall was followed by another mistake just two elements later, leaving the crowd in shock.

As Malinin left the ice, he appeared on the verge of tears, his head in his hands, a stark contrast to his reputation as the 'Quad God'.

A day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics is available for those looking to stay up-to-date with the events.

The full schedule, including medal event times, can be found for planning purposes.

The Winter Olympics 2026 medal table is continually updated to reflect the latest standings.

Following the short program, Mikhail Shaidorov trailed Ilia Malinin by 16 points.

Malinin had faced criticism earlier in the Games, particularly for his performance in the team event, where he was outscored by Yuma Kagiyama in the short program and made errors in the free skate.

In an effort to help Malinin cope with the pressure, his team took him out of the Olympic environment to train 35 miles away in Bergamo before the men's event.

Malinin's strong performance in the individual short program, finishing five points ahead of the field, suggested that the strategy had paid off.

His lead going into the free skate was significant, as Malinin typically dominates this phase of competition, having won the Grand Prix Final by 30 points after the free skate.

Malinin's usual advantage stems from his fearlessness and ability, which earns him high technical scores and extra credit from judges for his ambition.

However, his free skate routine was uncharacteristically cautious, with the quadruple axel replaced by a single axel and a quad loop reduced to a double loop.

Malinin's quad salchow attempt resulted in a double salchow, followed by a fall, a harsh reality check.

His free skate score of 156.33 points was only the 15th best of the night, more than 40 points behind Shaidorov's winning score.

Malinin's decision to perform a backflip for the crowd's entertainment seemed like a nostalgic gesture to his earlier performances.

Earlier in the team event, Malinin had made history by landing the first legal backflip at an Olympic Games since Terry Kubicka in 1976.

The backflip, once banned for safety reasons, is now legal again thanks in part to skaters like Surya Bonaly, who successfully performed the move illegally at Nagano 1998.

Malinin had also successfully landed the backflip on one foot in the short program, a testament to his skill.

Despite his disappointment, Malinin was quick to congratulate Shaidorov on his victory after the scores were announced.

Shaidorov's gold medal marks Kazakhstan's first Winter Olympic gold since Vladimir Smirnov's win in the men's 50km cross-country skiing at Lillehammer 1994, 10 years before Shaidorov was born.

After a slight mistake on the quad lutz, Shaidorov composed himself and delivered two clean quad techniques, showcasing his skill under pressure.

With his victory, Mikhail Shaidorov has emerged as a new figure in men's figure skating.

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Hull City Match Marred by Discriminatory Chants, Multiple Arrests Made

Authorities have taken individuals into custody in connection with reported instances of discriminatory chanting that occurred during the FA Cup fourth round contest between Hull City and Chelsea.

The crowd at Hull City's match against Chelsea was cautioned about engaging in discriminatory chanting, which occurred during the team's loss.

Following multiple arrests at the FA Cup fourth-round match between Hull City and Chelsea, a fan group denounced homophobic chanting, labeling it a "blemish on the sport".

A warning was issued over the public address system during the first half of the game at Hull City's MKM Stadium, notifying spectators that discriminatory chanting would not be tolerated and that CCTV footage was being reviewed.

In the second half, it was confirmed that action had been taken against those responsible, resulting in arrests.

The exact number of arrests was not disclosed by the club, and Humberside police have been contacted by BBC Sport for further information.

A message displayed on the stadium's screens read: "Discriminatory chanting has been reported from the crowd. This behavior is unacceptable and must stop immediately."

This incident occurred a day after Hull City released a statement on Thursday emphasizing that chanting of a homophobic, racist, or discriminatory nature would not be accepted and would result in severe consequences.

The club stated that fans found engaging in such behavior would face immediate removal from the stadium, potential banning orders, and possible prosecution.

Chelsea Pride, the official LGBTQ+ supporter group of Chelsea, issued a statement condemning the homophobic chanting directed at their supporters, describing it as "completely unacceptable".

The group acknowledged Hull City's efforts to address the issue, including making stadium announcements, monitoring CCTV, and making arrests, emphasizing that taking action and holding individuals accountable is crucial.

Chelsea Pride expressed concern that such chanting still occurs in 2026, considering it a "blemish on the sport".

Chelsea, a Premier League team, secured a 4-0 victory over their Championship opponents, advancing to the fifth round.

Chelsea's manager, Liam Rosenior, stated that he was unaware of the chanting during the game, focusing on the match instead, but emphasized that discriminatory language is unacceptable and should be addressed.

Rosenior mentioned that the fourth official had informed him about an issue, but he was too focused on the game to be aware of the details.

Hull City's manager, Sergej Jakirovic, condemned the behavior, stating that it has no place in the stadium or in public, and supported the arrests made.

Jakirovic emphasized that the stadium is not an appropriate setting for such behavior, which is why those responsible were arrested.

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Shaidorov Claims Gold as Malinin Stumbles Twice in Free Skate Upset

A major upset occurred at the 2026 Winter Olympics as 21-year-old Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan secured the gold medal in men’s figure skating, while top contender Ilia Malinin of the USA finished eighth, having stumbled twice during his free skate program.

In a stunning upset at the 2026 Winter Olympics, 21-year-old Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov claimed the top spot in men's figure skating, while American Ilia Malinin, a strong contender, finished eighth after a disappointing performance that included two falls during his free skate.

For further information on this unexpected turn of events, a detailed article is available, highlighting Shaidorov's surprise victory and Malinin's uncharacteristic struggles.

Access to additional content is restricted to users based in the United Kingdom.

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Manchester City dominate to raise the bar in the WSL

Manchester City delivered a dominant performance, defeating Leicester 6-0 and establishing a high benchmark in the WSL, with the bottom-placed team unable to contain their opponents.

Manchester City is on track to secure its first Women's Super League title since 2016, with a strong performance this season.

According to Manchester City manager Andree Jeglertz, motivation is not an issue for his players, who are well aware of their position in the league and their accomplishments.

Jeglertz expressed his admiration for his team's display, stating that he was impressed and proud of their efforts.

These comments followed a convincing 6-0 victory over Leicester City, which allowed Manchester City to reclaim its 11-point lead at the top of the Women's Super League.

This season, Manchester City has won 14 out of 16 matches, including all nine home league games, with the only dropped points coming from defeats at Stamford Bridge and Emirates Stadium against the reigning WSL and European champions.

After a surprise loss to Arsenal the previous Sunday, Manchester City bounced back with an outstanding performance against Leicester, demonstrating their ability to respond to setbacks.

Although the teams chasing Manchester City have at least one game in hand, the gap between them remains significant, with Manchester United trailing by 11 points, Chelsea by 12, and Arsenal by 13.

As the season progresses, it appears unlikely that any of the chasing teams will be able to catch up with Manchester City and prevent them from claiming their second WSL title.

Despite scoring six goals against Leicester, Manchester City may feel that they could have scored even more, given their dominant performance.

The team's statistics were impressive, with 31 shots on goal, 15 on target, an xG of 4.61, and 232 passes in the final third, all of which are the highest totals for a WSL team this season.

The win over Leicester increased Manchester City's goal difference to +34, nearly twice as good as Manchester United's +18, and brought their total goals for the season to 47, averaging 2.94 per game.

Lauren Hemp had a notable performance against Leicester, delivering 14 crosses and taking four shots.

Manchester City's commitment to excellence is exemplified by Lauren Hemp's attitude, as she provided two assists and created 11 chances for her teammates, earning her the player of the match award.

When asked about her satisfaction with the game, Hemp replied, "I'm happy to have contributed, but I think I need to work on my shooting – I didn't score a goal." However, she expressed overall happiness with the team's performance.

"We're really pleased with the result," Hemp said. "The whole team is confident, and everyone is contributing, including the substitutes."

Having missed out on a Champions League spot last season, Manchester City has played 22 games in all competitions this season, whereas their rivals have played more, with Chelsea having played 25, Arsenal 27, and Manchester United 28 by the end of the weekend.

The extra rest appears to have benefited the squad, particularly star striker Khadija Shaw, who has scored 15 league goals this season, surpassing her total of 12 from the previous campaign.

Despite the upcoming Asia Cup and the potential departure of key players like Yui Hasegawa, Manchester City seems well-equipped to succeed, with record signing Sam Coffey making an impressive debut start in midfield.

Former Manchester City captain Steph Houghton, commenting on Sky Sports, noted the team's determination to succeed this season.

Houghton observed that being at the top of the league with a significant points difference can bring added pressure, and players may feel this pressure in the days following a loss, such as the one to Arsenal.

However, Houghton felt that Manchester City's response to the setback was perfect.

With six games remaining, Manchester City needs 12 points to secure the title, and if results go in their favor, they could potentially win it at Old Trafford on Sunday, March 29.

This achievement might be enough to satisfy Jeglertz and his ambitious group of players.

The Women's Football Weekly podcast, hosted by Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie, returns for another season, with new episodes available every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, along with interviews and additional content from the Women's Super League.

For the latest news and updates on the Women's Super League, visit the dedicated page.