Shani Davis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Shani Davis

Davis in 2006
Personal information
Born	(1982-08-13) August 13, 1982 (age 43) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Northern Michigan University
Height	6 ft 2 in
Weight	190 lb
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Speed skating
Medal record Men's speed skating Representing the  United States Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 2 0 World Allround Championships 2 1 1 World Sprint Championships 1 1 2 World Single Distance Championships 8 4 3 World Short Track Championships 0 0 1 Total 13 8 7 Olympic Games Gold 2006 Turin 1000 m Gold 2010 Vancouver 1000 m Silver 2006 Turin 1500 m Silver 2010 Vancouver 1500 m World Allround Championships Gold 2005 Moscow Allround Gold 2006 Calgary Allround Silver 2004 Hamar Allround Bronze 2008 Berlin Allround World Sprint Championships Gold 2009 Moscow Sprint Silver 2014 Nagano Sprint Bronze 2007 Hamar Sprint Bronze 2011 Heerenveen Sprint World Single Distance Championships Gold 2004 Seoul 1500 m Gold 2007 Salt Lake City 1000 m Gold 2007 Salt Lake City 1500 m Gold 2008 Nagano 1000 m Gold 2009 Vancouver 1500 m Gold 2011 Inzell 1000 m Gold 2011 Inzell Team pursuit Gold 2015 Heerenveen 1000 m Silver 2008 Nagano 1500 m Silver 2011 Inzell 1500 m Silver 2012 Heerenveen Team pursuit Silver 2013 Sochi 1500 m Bronze 2009 Vancouver 1000 m Bronze 2012 Heerenveen 1000 m Bronze 2013 Sochi 1000 m Men's short track speed skating World Championships Bronze 2005 Beijing 5000 m relay

Shani Earl Davis (born August 13, 1982) is an American former speed skater. He is known for being one of the best speed skaters in history. Davis won many medals at the Winter Olympics and other world championships. He was the first man to win two Olympic gold medals in the 1000-meter speed skating event. He also set several world records during his career.

Early Life and Training

Shani Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 13, 1982. His mother, Cherie, chose his name, which means "to adventure." When he was six, Shani started speed skating. His family moved closer to his skating club in Chicago.

Starting Young in Speed Skating

At 16, Shani was invited to Lake Placid, New York, for a special program. This program helped young speed skaters improve their skills. After a year, he moved to Marquette, Michigan, to train more. He wanted to achieve his dream of becoming an Olympic skater.

Becoming a Junior Champion

Davis joined both the long track and short track national teams in 1999. This was for the junior world championship. He made history in 2000 by being the first U.S. skater to be on both junior teams. He did this again in 2001 and 2002. Davis won a bronze medal in the Team Relay at the 2005 World Short Track Championships. He shared this medal with his U.S. teammates.

Olympic Journey and Success

2002 Winter Olympics Debut

Davis went to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He had qualified for the short track team. After the opening ceremony, he left to compete in junior world championships in Italy. There, he won the 1500m race. He was the only U.S. skater to make both junior short track and long track world teams three years in a row.

Turning Professional in Speed Skating

In 2003, Davis became a professional speed skater. He won the North American long track champion title that year. This allowed him to compete in the World Championship in Sweden. In 2004, he won the North American title again. He also finished second at the World Allround Long Track Championships in Norway. In March 2004, Davis won the 1500m at the World Single Distance Championships in Seoul.

Setting World Records

Shani Davis set three world records in 2005. On January 9, 2005, he broke the 1500 m world record. He also set a record for the best overall time in qualifiers. A month later, he won the World Champion all-round title. In November, he broke another world record in the 1000m race. His strong performances meant he was already qualified for the 2006 Olympic Team.

2006 Winter Olympics in Turin

Davis during the World Cup in Heerenveen in 2007

At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Shani Davis won two important medals. He earned a gold medal in the 1000-meter speed skating event. He also won a silver medal in the 1500-meter event.

Team Pursuit Discussion

Before the 2006 Olympics, there was a discussion about the team pursuit event. This was a new event at the Games. Davis chose to focus on his individual races. He wanted to give other skaters a chance to compete. His coach listed him as a substitute, just in case. Some people had different opinions about his decision. However, Davis's focus on individual events led to his two medals. The U.S. Olympic Committee supported his choice.

Continuing Success After the Olympics

After the 2006 Olympics, Davis kept winning. He won the final 1000m World Cup event of the season. He also won the overall World Cup title for the 1000 meters. In March 2006, he defended his World Allround Championships title. He set a world record for his all-round score. He even broke a world record in the 1500-meter race.

In the 2006–07 season, Davis placed third at the World Sprint Championships. He also won world titles in the 1000m and 1500m events. In the 2007–08 season, he won overall World Cup titles in both the 1000m and 1500m. He defended his 1000m world title.

In the 2008–09 season, Davis continued his winning streak. He defended his World Cup titles in the 1000m and 1500m. He broke world records in both distances. He also won the 1500m world title. In 2009, he won the World Sprint Speed Skating Championship in Moscow. He became only the second male skater to win both the World Allround and World Sprint titles.

2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

Davis with the medals that he won in the 2010 Winter Olympics

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Davis competed in four events. He won the gold medal in the 1000-meter speed skating event. This made him the first man to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the 1000-meter race. He also won a silver medal in the 1500-meter race.

Later Olympic Appearances

Davis competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He finished 8th in the 1000-meter race. He also competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. He finished 19th in the 1500-meter race and 7th in the 1000-meter race.

Flagbearer Selection

Before the 2018 Winter Olympics, there was a vote for the American team's flag bearer. Shani Davis and another athlete, Erin Hamlin, each received four votes. A coin toss was used to decide the tie, and Hamlin won. Davis expressed his disappointment with the process. He decided not to attend the opening ceremony.

Retirement

Shani Davis announced his retirement from speed skating in November 2019.

Records and Achievements

Shani Davis set a total of nine world records during his career. He was known for his consistent performance and excellent technique. He held the top spot on the Adelskalender list for over ten years. This list ranks the fastest long track speed skaters of all time.

Personal Records

World Records Set by Shani Davis

Personal Life

Shani Davis studied at Northern Michigan University. He trained at the Olympic speedskating center in Marquette, Michigan. The animated movie character Frozone, a superhero with ice powers, was reportedly inspired by Shani Davis.

See also

In Spanish: Shani Davis para niños