Gennady Golovkin Hails Mikhail Shaidorov's Olympic Gold as Kazakhstan's Triumph

Former boxing champion Gennady Golovkin has expressed his profound understanding of the emotions surrounding an Olympic victory, as he welcomed home Kazakhstan's newest gold medalist, figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov.

"I, like no one else, understand what it means to return home with a gold medal. We have heroes today," Golovkin stated. He emphasized that the nation has gained new heroes who have represented Kazakhstan with honor on the global stage.

Golovkin attributed Shaidorov's success to a collective national effort. He extended his gratitude to the coaches, the athletes' families, and everyone who supported the team, noting that such backing for sports is provided at the state level.

"We, as Kazakhstan, deserved this—we have gold in figure skating. Be proud of this; these are our new heroes," Golovkin remarked.

Upon his arrival, Mikhail Shaidorov himself thanked fans for their warm welcome and steadfast support. "Finally, I am home. I want to express my immense gratitude that you came here today, late at night, to meet me. This is truly very pleasant because I am overwhelmed with pride for my country when the flag of Kazakhstan was raised in the most honorable place at the Olympic Games... Thank you all," said Shaidorov.

Shaidorov's gold medal was the sole award for Team Kazakhstan at the 2026 Winter Olympics, leading to a 19th-place finish in the overall medal standings.