Shani Davis

My mom never thought of herself first, and I credit most of my success to her.





Fast Facts

Name: Shani Davis
Birthdate: August 13, 1982
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Current Residence: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Olympic Sport: Speed Skating
Medals: Gold, Men's 1000m; Silver, Men's 1500m

Shani's Favorite Things


Movie: Shaft
Actor: Robert DeNiro
Music: Rap
Hobbies: Taekwondo, playing video games, listening to music, fish keeping
Sports to watch: Basketball and track and field
Athlete: Michael Jordan and Walter Payton
Hero: Wale Kadiri

Introduction: Rewriting History

Shani Davis is no stranger to making history and breaking records. His list of accomplishments is long and impressive. He's been on Olympic teams for both short track speed skating, and long track. (Davis was an alternate for the 2002 Men's Short Track Relay Team). He is the first African-American to win an individual medal at the Winter Olympics. He snagged a silver medal in the Men's 1500m long track, and a gold medal in the Men's 1000m.

Shani hit the ice at the tender age of six. At 16, he began training at the development residency program in Lake Placid, New York before moving to Marquette, Michigan. Shani was and remains unique as he competed in both short track and long track junior circuits. While on the junior short track circuit, Davis became good friends with fellow short tracker Apolo Anton Ohno .

Family Support

Shani credits his mother as the reason why he's been so successful. He told the webmaster for his official site , "My mom never thought of herself first, and I credit most of my success to her. She continues to manage my career and is always there for me."

The Future: Life after Speed Skating

Hoping to someday work with children, Shani takes summer classes at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI.

Major Accomplishments


2005 World All Around Champion
First African-American to make the US Speed Skating Team
In 2002 First African-American to make the US Short Track Speed Skating team
Set the World Record in the Menšs 1500m Long Track in 2005
In 2004 and 2005 Made Both the US Short Track and Long Track Speed Skating Championship Teams
US All Around Champion in 2003, 2004 and 2005
Bronze Medalist 2005 World Short Track Relay Team
1500 Meter World Champion 2004 World Single Distance Championships
First Overall 2001 US Junior Speed Skating Championships, Long Track
Second Overall 2000 US Junior Speed Skating Championships, Long Track
Short Track Junior American Record 1000m in 2002

***Information Compiled from Shani Davis.org, NBC Olympics.com and USSpeedskating.org***
To read more about other athletes, go back to the Athletes' Bios page
Or check out Intern Bios
Back Home
Pictures courtsey of and used with permission from Jim Hawver
Site content cannot be used without the expressed written consent of the webmaster or the site's contributors.