Mikhail Shaidorov: “I wanted to prove that I can do more than just jump”

Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan continues his ascent. The 20-year-old won the Four Continents Championships in Seoul with an outstanding performance, exactly ten years after Denis Ten won the first ISU championship title for Kazakhstan at this very venue.  We interviewed Mikhail shortly after his big success.

The Russian version of this interview has been published at the Olympic Channel website (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

What was the reaction in Kazakhstan to your victory in Seoul?

Mikhail: The reaction has been huge. I was on all the news programs and received a lot of messages, congratulations and support! The leading TV channels welcomed me in the capital, which was incredible for me.

When you came onto the ice for the free skate, the wrong music was accidentally switched on. How did you react and keep your nerve?

It was the very first time in my career that this had happened. Of course I didn't realize what was going on at first, but on the other hand it was as if I had been showered with cold water and I was able to let go of the tension before the free skate.

How did you feel in the free skating? When did you realize that it was going really well?

I didn't think about anything during the free skate, I just remember it like a fog. I did everything automatically. My main task was to do everything the way I could and after the last jumping element I knew that I had done everything, I could have done and I tried to finish the program with all the emotions.

At the end of the free skate, you let yourself fall onto the ice. What did you feel at that moment?

I had done it! I beat myself, despite the problem with the music, despite my huge nervousness before the free skate.

You said at the press conference in Seoul that this title means a lot to you exactly ten years after Denis Ten's victory. Can you please explain in more detail what significance this medal has for you and figure skating in Kazakhstan?

Of course, this medal is first and foremost my greatest success. I, my coaches, sponsors and everyone who supports me have put so much into this medal and it was not in vain. I still can't believe that ten years ago Denis won in the same rink and now, ten years later, I'm winning, having watched the 2015 Four Continents Championships on TV at the time and being thrilled by Denis' victory. The fact that I won in this venue is incredible for me. It's very difficult to describe these emotions, because Denis told the whole world back then that there is figure skating in Kazakhstan and I'm proving it again. I want figure skating to develop in my country, I want children to see such success and know that everything is possible in this world. I have always dreamed of singing the anthem of Kazakhstan at a major event and my dream has come true.

What maybe has changed in your work this season? You said that you worked a lot. Why did you train more or differently?

This season we worked a lot on the jump combinations. That was my wish and since April 2024 I knew that I would try them at competitions and that's why I trained a lot. We also worked a lot on the programs, I wanted to prove that I can do more than just jump. Everything worked out thanks to my team, the support of my sponsors and the Ministry of Sport. I trained a lot in Kazakhstan, although the conditions didn't always allow me to practice fully and comfortably. But I am glad that my team and I are very communicative and my coaches always take my wishes into account and we train where it is comfortable for me.

You have great jumps. How much of that is talent and how much is learned technique?

In figure skating, the foundations are always laid in childhood and I am very grateful to my father, who invested a lot of effort and work in me to train me properly as a child. Thanks to this, we have achieved a lot and we are now continuing on this path with Alexei Evgenievitch (Urmanov). Of course, I'm very stubborn and can't get off the ice if I don't succeed at something. I always try to do everything as well as possible and get the most out of training. That's talent and hard work combined. But it's also the colossal work of all the experts.

You have been training with Alexei Urmanov for a long time, but not so long with Ivan Righini. When did this collaboration begin and what does it give you?

We started working with Vania in 2022, so it will soon be three years. It all started with the choreography for my program for “Luna”. After some time, I realized that it was very comfortable for me to train with Vania and now he is in my team. However, we can't always find the right time for training. But I hope that we will work together even more in the future. Vania brings a lot of new things to the table, as do Alexei Evgenievitch and myself. In our work together, everyone thinks about innovations and everyone approaches them from their own perspective and then we bring everything together and we see the outcome at competitions.

If I understood you correctly, you now spend most of your time training in Kazakhstan. What are your conditions like there? How is the cooperation with Alexei and Vania?

Yes, I spend most of my time in Kazakhstan, sometimes Alexei Evgenievich or Vania come to me, sometimes we work via video and sometimes I travel to a place that is easily accessible for all of us. It's always different. The conditions in Almaty are not the best so far, but I hope that they will improve significantly after my victory!

You took part in several major competitions in a row at the beginning of the year - the Universiade, the Asian Winter Games and the Four Continents. How exhausting was that or how did it perhaps even help you to get into top form?

It seems to me that it helped me because I experimented with the jumping elements, the spins etc. at each competition. Multisport competitions are always interesting because you see other sports, the fans and the countries are very active. So I think that was a big plus for me this season, even though it was physically tough.

What influence did it have that you were in the Grand Prix Final for the first time?

It gave me a lot of motivation because being one of the best in the first half of the season is a big achievement for me. It was the first time for Kazakhstan. Then it played a big role that I showed this combination (3A+Eu+4S) in the free skating. It seems to me that if I hadn't been in the Final, I would have done this combination much later. After the Final, it gave me confidence that I can skate clean and be one of the best figure skaters.

What are your next plans in terms of elements, spins, new jump combinations for the World Championships and beyond?

I'm thinking about making the technical content in the free skating harder. Now that I've managed it at the Four Continents, that means it's time to go further and make it even more difficult. Of course I want to improve my spins and skating skills. I hope to be even better at the World Championships than I was at the Four Continents, because my main goal is to improve with every competition.

How are your preparations for the World Championships going? I hope there are no problems with the visa this time.

I have the visa! This is my biggest victory :-) We are preparing in the USA together with Vania and Alexei Evgenievitch to adapt to the time and be in the best shape. 

What feelings do the Olympic Games evoke in you? Did you use to follow them?

It was always unimaginable for me to compete at the Olympic Games. Of course, I watched all the medal winners in almost all disciplines, especially the singles in 2002. My father taught me about the rivalry between Evgeni Plushenko and Alexei Yagudin as a child and I watched the Olympics several times. I watched the performances of my coach (Urmanov) at the Olympic Games. Of course, I was rooting together with my dad for Denis and Abzal (Rakimgaliev) at the 2010 and 2014 Games. It always brought up emotions and excitement and the Olympics are something very strong for me, because the best compete there and represent their country. I have always dreamed of defending my country's honor at the Olympic Games, because Kazakhstan is a very beautiful country. We have a lot of talented people and I want to show that.

Interview & Photos: Tatjana Flade