Milan, Italy, February 22, 2026: Kazakhstan Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov has donated the costume he wore during his gold-medal performance in the men’s figure skating competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics to the Olympic Museum.
The official ceremony took place at the House of Skating in Milan last Friday, February 20, and was attended by the President of the International Skating Union, Kim Jae Youl, the Deputy Director of the Olympic Museum, Yasmin Meichtry, and the President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin.
The Kazakhstan NOC president emphasised the historical significance of Shaidorov’s victory, which marked Kazakhstan’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in figure skating.
“This wasn’t just a victory – it was history. Today, a piece of that history remains here forever. Entrusting this suit to the Olympic Museum allows millions of people to witness our champion’s legacy. This costume will inspire young athletes to dream and believe in their own strength. Mikhail, thank you for this gift, we are very proud of you,” Golovkin noted.
Shaidorov said: “Donating my costume to the Olympic Museum collection is a tremendous honour and a great responsibility. I stand here with deep emotion, knowing that a piece of my dream will become part of the global Olympic heritage.
“This suit is a symbol of our journey toward the Olympic dream, and it is especially meaningful to me that it will now represent Kazakhstan among the exhibits of the Olympic Movement. Let it serve as a symbol that the Olympic dream knows no boundaries, and every athlete can become part of great Olympic history. I thank the International Olympic Committee for their support,” he added.
Working alongside Kazakhstan designers, Shaidorov chose a deep blue colour symbolising outer space, echoing the atmosphere of the movie "The Fifth Element", to whose soundtrack the free programme was performed. The look was completed with rhinestones and stones resembling stars.
