Head coach of the Kazakhstan Freestyle Moguls Team, Yelena Kruglykhina, has responded to claims from Olympic figure skating champion Mikhail Shaidorov that he has not received his salary in recent months.
Kruglykhina said Shaidorov, like other winter sports athletes, signed a contract valid through Feb. 22, 2026. She added that responsibility for renewing agreements did not rest solely with the federation, but also with the athlete’s representatives.
«Has Misha gone too far, or are you being used?» Kruglykhina wrote on Instagram. «You signed a contract until Feb. 22, 2026, just like all of us winter sports athletes, and it’s the federation’s fault they didn’t renew your contract. You have agents, managers and so on. Why didn’t they work on it? The ministry is now blushing because people don’t understand our system.»
Shaidorov says payments have been delayed
Shaidorov said he has not received his salary for several months following his Olympic victory. He added that he must now prepare for the upcoming season, attend training camps, and develop a new program, but said the lack of stable funding is making preparation difficult.
He also suggested he may have been «punished» following earlier public comments about athlete compensation. Shaidorov further stated that his doctor was removed in February.
Sports authorities cite contract terms
The Sports Development Directorate said payments to athletes are made in accordance with existing contracts. According to the agency, Shaidorov received his full salary for January and February 2026 under his previous agreement.
Officials said a new contract was expected to be signed in March, at the start of the new Olympic cycle. The draft agreement is currently under review, with legal details still being finalized between the parties. The directorate added that payments will resume once the new contract is signed.
Olympic rewards still guaranteed
The agency also confirmed that Shaidorov will receive all state rewards for his Olympic victory, including $250,000, a three-bedroom apartment in Almaty, and a lifetime monthly stipend. Officials said the government will fully honor these commitments.
