Mikhail Shaidorov

Mikhail Stanislavovich Shaidorov (born 25 June 2004) is a Kazakhstani figure skater. He is the 2023 Cup of China bronze medalist, the 2023 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb silver medalist, the 2021 Sofia Trophy bronze medalist, and a five-time Kazakhstani national champion (2020-2024). Shaidorov has placed as high as fifth in two ISU Championships and finished fourth at the 2023 Winter World University Games.

At the junior level, he is the 2022 World Junior silver medalist and the 2021 JGP Poland silver medalist.

Personal life
Shaidorov was born on June 25, 2004 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He is a student at the Kazakh Academy of Sports & Tourism.

Career
Shaidorov began figure skating in 2010.

2019–20 season
Shaidorov won his first national title at the 2020 Kazakhstani Championships. He was then selected to compete at the 2020 World Junior Championships, finishing in twenty-second place.

2020–21 season
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic greatly curtailed both training and competitive opportunities for Shaidorov and other skaters, and he dedicated himself to improvement via off-ice training for long periods. He began his season by winning his second consecutive national title at the 2021 Kazakhstani Championships. He went on to win the bronze medal at the 2021 Sofia Trophy.

Selected to compete at the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden, Shaidorov placed thirty-second.

2021–22 season
With the resumption of international junior competition, Shaidorov was given one assignment on the Junior Grand Prix, winning the silver medal at the 2021 JGP Poland. This was the first JGP medal for a Kazakh male skater since Denis Ten in 2008. He went on to make his Challenger series debut, placing ninth at the 2021 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge.

At the 2022 Four Continents Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Shaidorov finished fifth. Reflecting on his limited competitive opportunities in recent years, he said that "since it happens so seldom, sometimes things don't go as it should. The competitions this season went well."

Although initially selected to compete at the 2022 World Championships in Montpellier, France, Shaidorov was forced to withdraw after being denied a visa by the French Embassy. However, he was able to attend the 2022 World Junior Championships in Tallinn. Shaidorov placed eighth in the short program but second in the free skate, ultimately winning the silver medal and becoming the first Kazakh skater to win a medal at the World Junior Championships.

2022–23 season
Shaidorov began his season at the 2022 CS Finlandia Trophy, finishing eighth. Although he was selected to compete on the Grand Prix series at the 2022 Grand Prix de France and the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo, Shaidorov withdrew from both events after becoming ill with the Epstein–Barr virus and requiring hospitalization.

Despite illness, he went on to compete at the 2022 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb and finished fourth. Selected to compete at the 2023 Winter University Games, Shaidorov finished fourth after placing sixth in the short program and third in the free skate.

At the 2023 Four Continents Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Shaidorov only arrived the day of the short program due to issues obtaining a visa to compete at the event. He placed twelfth in the short program and fifth in the free skate, scoring a personal best free skate and combined total score. He ultimately placed fifth overall. Shaidorov said he was "thrilled" with his free skate performance.

Competing at the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Japan, Shaidorov finished fourteenth after placing eighteenth in the short program and twelfth in the free skate.

2023–24 season
Injury forced Shaidorov to withdraw from the 2023 CS Nepela Memorial, but he was able to make his Grand Prix debut at the 2023 Skate Canada International, where he finished fifth. He set new personal bests in the short program and total score. At Shaidorov's second assignment, the 2023 Cup of China, he was third both in the short and free portion of the men's competition and finished with the bronze medal. He again set new personal bests, and said he was "pleased" with his first senior Grand Prix medal. Shaidorov won the silver medal at the 2023 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, winning his first ISU Challenger Series medal.

Shaidorov placed sixth at the 2024 Four Continents Championships in Shanghai, China. He deemed his performances "somewhat acceptable," admitting he was "seldom satisfied with my performances." He later won gold at the 2024 Challenge Cup at the end of February. Shaidorov concluded the season at the 2024 World Championships, where he came fourteenth.

Competitive highlights

 * GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
 * JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
 * CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series

Senior level

 * Small medals for the short program and free skating are only awarded at ISU Championships.