Shaidorov shines to become the first Four Continents champion from Kazakhstan in 10 years

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Mikhail Shaidorov produced a season-best score in the free skate on Saturday to become the first skater from Kazakhstan to win the Four Continents title since Denis Ten in 2015.

Skating at the same venue where Ten won, Shaidorov held a 12-point lead after the short program and was equally impressive in the free skate, landing four quadruple jumps and three triples for 190.37 points for an overall total of 285.10.

Cha Jun-hwan of South Korea was second with 265.02 points followed by Jimmy Ma of the United States with 245.01.

The 20-year-old Shaidorov, who took part in lessons Ten held in Kazakhstan, earned his first International Skating Union title and first medal at the Four Continents.

“This gold medal means a lot to me,” Shaidorov said. “Ten years ago it was Denis Ten who won the first Four Continents gold medal for Kazakhstan here in Seoul and now I was able to return this medal to our country.”

Performing to “Moonlight Sonata” and “Take On Me,” Shaidorov opened with a superb triple axel, single Euler and quad salchow combination that set the tone for his routine.

He followed with a quad lutz and a quad toeloop before adding another quad toe-triple toe combination later in his routine.

When he routine was over, Shaidorov collapsed to the ice in happiness.

“The emotions are overwhelming,” Shaidorov said. “It is very meaningful also for Kazakhstan and it is in memory of Denis.”

Ten was stabbed to death during a carjacking in Almaty in July 2018.

Cha was fourth after the short program and turned in a spectacular free skate with a season’s best score of 185.78 to grab the silver medal before the home fans.

The South Korean skater started his routine with a quadruple salchow. His next element was supposed to be a quad toeloop but he could only manage a double, but that was the only major mistake for the 2022 Four Continents champion.

“Five years ago, when we had the Four Continents here in Korea, I really wanted to get a medal but I came fifth,” Cha said. “And this time I achieved that goal, so I’m really happy.”

Ma, who was second after the short program, hit two quad toes but fell on a triple loop early in his routine and touched down on triple axel.

“Obviously it’s an incredible honor to be able to get this medal this year, at this time,” Ma said. “But my goal for this Championship was just to put out two performances that I’d be incredibly proud of.”

In the ice dance final, defending champions Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada held on their slim one-point lead from the rhythm dance to claim their second consecutive title in the event.

Gilles and Poirier finished second to Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates in Saturday’s free dance but their lead from the rhythm dance was good enough to allow them to finish first overall with 218.46 points.

Two-time and reigning world champions Chock and Bates were second with 217.93 points while Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, also of Canada, took the bronze with 201.04 points.

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Gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, centre, silver medalist Cha Jun-hwan of South Korea, left, and bronze medalist Jimmy Ma of the United States pose during the medal ceremony for the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan poses during the medal ceremony for the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Aleksa Rakic of Canada, performs during the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Aleksa Rakic of Canada, performs during the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Dias Jirenbayev of Kazakhstan, performs during the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Douglas Gerber of Australia, performs during the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Douglas Gerber of Australia, performs during the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Chiu Hei Cheung of Hong Kong performs during the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Darian Kaptich of Australia, performs during the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Douglas Gerber of Australia, performs during the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Yu-Hsiang Li of Taiwan, performs during the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, center, gestures after competing in the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, centre, silver medalist Cha Jun-hwan of South Korea, left, and bronze medalist Jimmy Ma of the United States pose with their medals during the victory ceremony for the men's free skating in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Mokdong ice rink in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications, according to a statement released by his family.

Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, said in a news release the family received the medical evaluation on Saturday.

Busch, a two-time NASCAR champion, died at 41 on Thursday, a day after passing out in a Chevrolet simulator.

Sepsis is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body has an extreme, overactive response to an infection, causing the immune system to damage its own tissues and organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Typically the immune system releases chemicals to fight off pathogens like bacteria, viruses or fungi, but with sepsis the response goes into overdrive. The results can cause widespread inflammation, form microscopic blood clots and make blood vessels leak.

Busch was thought to have had a sinus cold while racing at Watkins Glen on May 10 and radioed in to his team saying that he needed a “shot” from a doctor after the race.

However, he bounced back to win the Trucks Series race at Dover last weekend, and then he finished 17th in the All-Star race on Sunday.

Busch, who was preparing to race Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

During the emergency call placed late that afternoon, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”

The caller said Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and told dispatch “he is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office. The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.

NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski said he knew Busch wasn’t feeling well recently.

“Yes, but I won’t go into any specifics," Keselowski said. “But then when he ran the Truck race last week, those (thoughts) were honestly kind of erased in my mind.”

Keselowski said running multiple races on the same weekend can be difficult on a driver's health — but most don't want to miss a race for fear of being replaced.

“There’s no shortage of drivers that would love to take my seat or anybody else’s seat if we weren’t feeling well, and I think every driver feels that pressure,” Keselowski said. “All athletes do. It’s not unique to NASCAR in that sense. We’re all thinking to ourselves, ‘I don’t wanna be replaced.’ ... So you try to power through it the best you can."

Busch won 234 races across NASCAR’s top three series over his two-decade career, more than any driver in history.

All 39 drivers in the field for Sunday’s race will race with a black No. 8 decal on their car to honor Busch.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

An in memoriam photo of former driver Kyle Busch is displayed on the video board of the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

FILE - Kyle Busch waits for the start of a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)