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Mikhail Shaidorov, the Olympic champion in figure skating, has spoken out about the public release of his salary information, offering insights into his financial situation and the challenges faced during his athletic career.

Financial Realities in Sports

Shaidorov revealed in an interview that improvements in his financial standing within the sport only materialized during the Olympic season. He recounted approaching the Directorate for the Development of Sports after winning a silver medal at the Four Continents Championships, requesting an increase in his salary and that of his coaches. "My salary was low then, and I asked for an increase for a long time," he stated.

The athlete emphasized the necessity of funding for professional services, purchasing costumes, and planning for the future. "For me, money is a tool for growth," Shaidorov explained. During the Olympic season, he and his coaches were assigned a higher salary, and ice time was secured at the "Halyk Arena."

Training Environment and Support

Shaidorov described the Olympic season as the first where his training was fully supported. "This was the first season where my program was paid for. It was the first season my costumes were paid for. And it was the first season I had a doctor," he shared.

Despite these improvements, the skater highlighted that the training system in Kazakhstan still requires significant development. "Unfortunately, it became clear that many of our processes are not yet optimized, and there hasn't always been an understanding of the specific training needs of figure skaters and the conditions required for an athlete," Shaidorov commented.

He also pointed out specific difficulties encountered during training sessions. "Sometimes, while I was skating, technical work was being done in the arena – people were working on the roof, and this continued for several days. Sometimes strangers would enter the ice," he recalled.

Privacy and Financial Contributions

Shaidorov deemed the public disclosure of his earnings as inappropriate. "It was unpleasant for me that confidential information about my salary became public. I consider this a lack of respect for me as an athlete and as a person," he stated.

He believes that an excessive focus on finances detracts from the significance of athletic achievement. "Now it seems like the ministry gave me a check for a gold medal? It shouldn't be like this," he remarked.

The athlete stressed that all funds received were reinvested into his training. "All the funds received were directed solely towards my training. There should be no doubt about this," Shaidorov asserted.

He also acknowledged the substantial financial contributions made by his family and sponsors over the years. "My parents and patrons have invested in my development for 15 years, and no one accounts for this," he said.

Shaidorov expressed gratitude for the support he has received, viewing his victory as a collective achievement. "I am thankful for the support I received, I appreciate it very much. All the expenses and difficulties were overcome, and I was able to raise the flag of Kazakhstan and sing the anthem," he concluded.

Background: Mikhail Shaidorov won the gold medal in men's figure skating at the Winter Olympic Games held in Italy. After the short program, the Kazakhstani ranked fifth, but a clean performance in the free skate allowed him to score 291.58 points, surpassing all competitors. Shaidorov's gold was the sole medal for Kazakhstan at these Games. He is also the second Kazakhstani in the history of the Winter Olympics to win an Olympic gold, following skier Vladimir Smirnov in 1994. Following Mikhail Shaidorov's victory, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, in response to public criticism, disclosed the salary amounts and total funds spent on preparing the figure skater (263,394,581 tenge).