Shani Davis – Olympic Medalist
At the Olympics
Shani Davis
The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics featured a 6’2 speed skater, Shani Davis from the South Side of Chicago. Born August 13, 1982, Davis began roller skating by age 2. Raised by his single mother, Davis was darting around the rink by the age of 3. He was so fast that skate guards would chase him to ask him to “slow down.” Bored with roller skating by the age of 6, a coach suggested he switch to ice skating. Shani joined the Evanston Speed Skating Club, and within two months he was competing locally. By the age of 8, he was winning regional age group competitions and began to hear about the Olympics. Shani’s mom encouraged him to participate; however, without skate clubs near his home, she decided to move to the north side to be closer to a rink in Evanston.
My Mom never thought of herself first; I credit most of my success to her. She continues to manage my career and is always here for me…Shani Davis
Shani won five National Age Group Championships between 1995 and 2003. He also won a North American Championship in 1999. Shani was the first Black speed skater to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in 2002. His accomplishments include:
- First U.S. skater to earn spots on the long and short Junior World Teams; he accomplished that feat in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
- Won three consecutive All Around Championship and Regional Qualifier for long track events
- First U.S. skater to make all three World teams in the same season in 2004-5; medaling in all three events
- Won the 2005 World All Around in Moscow Russia
- Won Gold and Silver in 2006 (Torino, Italy)
- Won World All Around Championship in 2006 in Calgary
- Won world titles in 2006-7 season
- Won 2007-8 season world titles
- In the 2008-9 season he won his first World Sprint Title in Moscow
- Currently holds two world records for the 1000 and 1500 meter.
- He received the 1500 m Silver at the 2010 Olympics
- He defended his 1000 m title for which he won gold in 2006
- He won gold for the 1000 m in 2010
Winning the 2006 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics gold in the men’s 1000 meter race made Shani the first African American individual gold medalist. At the age of 27, Shani has traveled all over the world competing. He is loved and respected by speed skating fans everywhere and possess a World Passport. He helped start Inner City Excellence (I.C.E.), a skating based youth development program serving hundreds of children.
Shani is relishing his 2009-10 season including the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver Canada. This is his 21st year in the sport. Davis becomes the first U.S. skater to defend an Olympic gold medal since Bonnie Blair accomplished the feat twice in the 500. The prospect of participating in Sochi, Russia, also excites Shani: “Some of my best skating memories are from Russia. It’s where I won my first World Championship and World Sprint Championship.”
Shani closes another Olympic chapter, but he’ll continue his pursuit of speedskating excellence in 2010 for another two weeks. He will be in Europe to defend his Overall World Cup titles in the 1000 and 1500 meters. The 2010 season ends March 12-14 with the World Cup Final in the speedskating loving Netherlands, where he’ll be celebrated on par with Olympic champions from that country.
