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)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed Friday to work together to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease global economic uncertainties caused by the war in the Middle East.

Their summit in Seoul came as U.S. President Donald Trump slammed allies for not supporting the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. Macron was making his first visit to South Korea since taking office in 2017, as part of an Asian tour that already has taken him to Japan.

Macron told Lee at the start of the meeting that the two countries can play a role in helping to stabilize the situation in the Middle East, including Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, which has unleashed shock on global energy markets.

At a joint televised briefing afterward, Macron underscored the need for France and South Korea to cooperate to help reopen the strait and deescalate Middle East animosities, while Lee said the two affirmed “their resolves to cooperate to secure the safe shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The two leaders did not take questions and did not elaborate on how they would help reopen the strait — the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil usually passes.

“We need to clearly define, at the international level, the conditions for a process to ease the crisis and conflict in the Middle East,” Macron said. “We need to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.”

Lee said he and Macron agreed to expand cooperation in technology, energy and other areas. South Korean and French officials also signed agreements to cooperate on nuclear fuel supply chains, jointly invest in an offshore wind project in southern South Korea and to collaborate on critical minerals. South Korea has moved to increase output at its nuclear reactors to mitigate the energy crunch and Lee has also called for a faster transition to renewable energy, saying the war has exposed the country’s heavy reliance on fossil fuel imports.

Macron’s Asia trip comes as Trump has ramped up his frustration with allies. In a speech Wednesday, Trump said Americans “don’t need” the strait but the countries who do “must grab it and cherish it.”

In an earlier Easter event at the White House, Trump called for his allies in Asia and China to get involved in reopening the waterway.

“Let South Korea, you know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm’s way over there, right next to a nuclear force — let South Korea do it,” Trump said. “Let Japan do it. They get 90% of their oil from the strait. Let China do it.”

The United States stations about 28,000 troops in South Korea, not the 45,000 stated by Trump. The U.S. troops’ deployment in South Korea is meant to deter potential aggressions from North Korea.

Macron has said reopening the Strait of Hormuz through a military operation is unrealistic.

South Korean officials have said they are in contact with Washington on the issue and that Seoul isn’t considering paying Iran transit fees to secure fuel shipments through the strait.

French President Emmanuel Macron, front left, his wife Brigitte Macron, back center, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, front right, and his wife Kim Hea Kyung, right, attend the welcome ceremony at the presidential Blue House in Seoul Friday, April 3, 2026. (Jung Yeon-je /Pool Photo via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, his wife Brigitte Macron, left, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, right, and his wife Kim Hea Kyung, second left, attend the welcome ceremony at the presidential Blue House in Seoul Friday, April 3, 2026. (Jung Yeon-je /Pool Photo via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, second left, talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, second right, during their meeting at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 3, 2026. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during their meeting at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 3, 2026. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)