Alex Shibutani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alex Shibutani |
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The Shibutanis in 2011
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Alex Hideo Shibutani |
| Country represented |  United States |
| Born | April 25, 1991 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Home town | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) |
| Began skating | 1998 |
| Retired | 2018 |
Alex Hideo Shibutani (born April 25, 1991) is an American former competitive ice dancer. Partnered with his sister Maia Shibutani, he is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist (2018), a three-time World medalist (silver in 2016; bronze in 2011 and 2017), the 2016 Four Continents champion, and a two-time U.S. national champion (2016, 2017). The Shibutanis have also won six titles on the Grand Prix series and a silver medal at the 2009 World Junior Championships. They are two-time members of the US Olympic team, competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In 2018, they became the first ice dancers who are both of Asian descent to medal at the Olympics (bronze in team figure skating and ice dancing). They are the second sibling duo to ever share an ice dancing Olympic medal, and the first from the United States.
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Personal life
Alex Hideo Shibutani was born on April 25, 1991, in Boston. He is the son of Chris and Naomi Shibutani, both of Japanese descent, who met as Harvard musicians. He has a younger sister, Maia Shibutani, who competes with him as his partner for ice dancing. He attended the Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, during the late 1990s before relocating to Colorado Springs from 2005 through 2007 then Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2007.
While in Colorado Springs, Alex Shibutani attended Cheyenne Mountain High School and finished his sophomore year there. He completed his junior and senior years of high school at Huron High School and entered the University of Michigan in the fall semester of 2009.
Career
Early career
Alex Shibutani began skating at age seven. He originally trained as a single skater and competed up to the juvenile level in singles. In March 2003, he and his family attended the World Championships in Washington D.C. He said, "We were seated close to the ice in the second row, and when the ice dancers came out for their warm up, we could actually feel a gust of wind as the skaters flew by. We were so impressed with the artistry, skating quality, and speed of the top teams that we decided to give it a try."
Programs
Competitive highlights
Detailed results
Philanthropy and diplomacy
- In 2017, the Shibutanis were named Sports Envoys by the U.S. State Department's Sports Diplomacy Office, joining a select roster of figure skaters, including Michelle Kwan and Evan Lysacek, who have been named to this role in the past. As envoys, the siblings have traveled to South Korea (2017) and Japan (2018, 2019).
- Right To Play Athlete Ambassadors since 2013
- LA2028 Athlete Advisory Commission members. Active involvement in the successful bid which brings the 2028 Summer Olympics back to the U.S. The Shibutanis participated in the panel presentation at the US Olympic Media Summit, joining LA2028 Chairman Casey Wasserman and Athletes Relations Liaison Janet Evans.
- Other organizations and causes to which the Shibutanis have lent support through skating performances, fundraising and social media engagement support include: The Jimmy Fund (through Harvard benefit show An Evening with Champions), Charity: Water (where Maia raised over $10,000 as part of her 2017 birthday campaign), One Fund Boston, and NOH8 Campaign.
- The Shibutanis were invited by President Joe Biden to the April 10, 2024, state dinner on the occasion of the visit of Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to the United States.
Awards and honors
- The siblings are two-time winners of the Edi Award from the Professional Skaters Association for outstanding ice dance performance at US Nationals
- The Shibutanis are several times winners of the US Olympic Committee "Team of the Month" award (including in October 2017 and December 2017) for their competitive achievements while representing Team USA internationally.
- Maia and Alex were nominated and elected as Finalists for the 2018 James E. Sullivan Award, awarded annually since 1930 by the AAU honoring the best amateur athlete in America across all sports.
Brand partnerships and sponsors
- Tumi Inc. - brand ambassadors
- Ralph Lauren Corporation - official sponsored athletes along with fellow Olympians Gus Kenworthy, Aja Evans, Jamie Anderson and Paralympian Rico Roman.
- Intel - Global Team Intel Athletes for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games
- Coca-Cola Corporation's Minute Maid brand
- The Hershey Company's Ice Breakers brand
- Smucker's Milk-Bone brand
See also
In Spanish: Alex Shibutani para niños
