SHANI DAVIS
  Born:  Aug. 13, 1982 - Chicago, IL, USA
  Height/Weight:  6'2"/185 lbs
  Current Residence:  Milwaukee, WI, USA
  World's Highest Ranking:  First
  Prestigious Awards: Oscar Mathisen Award (2005,2009);   Major Taylor Award (2006)
  Titles:  Olympic Gold & Silver Medalist (2010 & 2006); Current World Record Holder, 1000m & 1500m (2009); World Allround Champion (2005, 2006); World Champion 1000m (2004,2007,2008), World Champion 1500m (2007,2009); World Sprint Champion (2009); World Cup Overall Champion, 1000m (2006, 2008-2010), 1500m (2008-2010)

Shani Davis was born on Friday, August 13, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois. Raised by his mother on the city's south side, he started roller-skating at local rinks at age two. By age three Shani was darting around the roller rink so fast that skate guards would chase him just to ask him to slow down. Seeming to become bored with roller-skating, at age six a coach suggested that Shani switch to ice skating. Shortly thereafter, his mother started working for an attorney, Fred Benjamin, whose son happened to be involved in speed skating at an elite level. It was at that time that Benjamin suggested that Shani give speed skating a try.

Shani joined the Evanston Speedskating Club at age six and within two months started competing locally. Though immediately taking to ice, at competitions Shani was generally more interested in running around with his competitors and playing video games than he was with competing. Nevertheless, by age 8 he was winning regional age-group competitions and began to hear about the Olympic ideal from his Northbrook competitors and friends. Shani's mother encouraged him to participate and, in an effort to build his endurance, woke him most mornings to run a mile on a track close to their home. As there were -- and still are -- no speed skating clubs in inner city Chicago, at age 10 Shani and his mother moved to the far north side of the city to be closer to the Evanston rink.

"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."

Shani won five National Age Group Championships (1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003) and also won a North American Championship in 1999. Though Shani was the first black speed skater to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in 2002, Shani does not concentrate on making black history. Shani began making skating history at age 17 when he became the first U.S. skater to earn spots on both the short track and long track Junior World Teams and accomplished that feat three years in a row in 2000, 2001 and 2002. At 22, Shani won his third consecutive U.S. All-Around Championship and Regional Qualifier (long track events) and became the first U.S. skater to make all three World Teams in the same season (World Sprint, World All-Around and World Short Track), winning medals at all three events and ultimately winning the 2005 World Allround Championships in Moscow, Russia.  At 23, Shani won Gold and Silver at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy, and also repeated his World All-Around Title in Calgary. In the 2006-2007 season, Shani won world titles in the 1000 meter and 1500 meter events.  The following season (2007-2008) Shani repeated his 1000 meter World Title. The 2008-2009 season saw Shani win his first World Sprint Title in Moscow, Russia, and his third 1500 meter World Title in Vancouver.  So far in 2009-2010, he broke two world records (1000m and 1500m), won Gold and Silver in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games -- becoming the first speedskater to repeat as Olympic 1000 m Champion -- and he won his third consecutive Overall World Cup Titles in the 1000 and 1500 meters.

At 27, Shani has traveled all over the world competing in Canada, Hungary, Italy, Finland, Poland, Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Korea, China and Japan. He is beloved and respected by speedskating fans everywhere he goes, and he even possesses a World Passport.  He is also beloved by people at home, especially in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, and in Washington, DC, where he helped start Inner City Excellence (I.C.E.), a skating-based youth development program serving hundreds of children each year. 

Having completed the 21st year of his speed skating career and after many stellar performances, Shani looks forward to continuing his pursuit of excellence far into the future.