Olympic Champion Mikhail Shaidorov to Launch Grand Prix Season in France

Kazakhstan's figure skating sensation, Mikhail Shaidorov, the reigning Olympic champion, is set to launch his 2026/27 Grand Prix season in France. Shaidorov, who captured gold at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy, is scheduled to compete at the Grand Prix de France from October 23-25.

Following his French debut, Shaidorov will travel to China for the Cup of China, held from November 6-8. His performance across these two events will determine his qualification for the prestigious Grand Prix Final, slated for December 11-13 in Chongqing, China.

Another Kazakh athlete, Sofia Samodelkina, has also been assigned her events for the upcoming Grand Prix series. She is slated to compete at Skate Canada from October 29 to November 1, followed by an appearance at the Grand Prix event in the United States from November 13-15. Like Shaidorov, Samodelkina will be vying for points to secure a spot in the Grand Prix Final.

The International Skating Union (ISU) released the schedule for the 2026/27 season on June 16, confirming the participation of these two Kazakh skaters in the senior-level series. The Grand Prix circuit is a key platform for the world's elite figure skaters, offering a pathway to the season-ending final.