1 February 2014 –
The life of a speedskater is governed by numbers. Whether measuring years, distance, points, or hundredths of a second, numbers can also tell a compelling story.
On the threshold of his 4th Olympic Winter Games, two-time Olympic Champion Shani Davis is preparing to add another chapter to speedskating and Olympic history. Here’s a look at Shani’s all-world career, by the numbers (*updated 3/16/2014):
25,000 – Shani fans and followers on social media platforms (and counting)
11,560* – World Cup points, career (3rd all-time)
2002 – year of first Olympic Team (as a short-track speedskater)
1982 – year of first breath (in Chicago)
1,500 – lung-searing meters in the Olympic ‘Race of Kings’ (15 Feb. 2014)
1,000 – leg-burning meters in the Olympic ‘Long Sprint’ (12 Feb. 2014)
175 – World Cup starts, career (since 2005, 20th all-time)
144.80 – points atop history’s ‘Adelskalendar’ career speedskater ranking (1st since March 2009)
94* – World Cup total medals (2nd U.S. men)
86* – World Cup individual medals (2nd U.S. men)
70.7 – Winning percentage, Olympic Games & World Championships (1000m & 1500m)
66 – Worlds, Olympic & World Cup wins, 1000m & 1500m (125 starts: 52.8%)
58 – World Cup individual victories (2nd all-time, 1st U.S. men)
40 – 1000m World Cup victories (1st all-time)
31 – laps around the Sun (since 13 Aug. 1982)
25 – years of competitive speedskating (since age 6)
24.50 – fastest 400m lap in competition (2nd all-time)
18 – 1500m World Cup victories (tied 1st all-time)
12 – World Championship & Olympic Gold Medals (2nd U.S. men)
10* – World Cup Overall titles (2nd all-time)
8 – Team Pursuit World Cup medals (including 3 gold, 1st U.S. men)
7 – World Records broken (1000m x 2; 1500m x 5)
6 – World Championship single distance victories (1000m x 3; 1500m x 3)
6* – World Cup Overall 1000m titles (1st all-time)
4 – Olympic individual medals (2nd U.S. men)
3 – World Championship Overall titles (Allround x 2; Sprint x 1)
2 – Olympic Gold Medals (1000m, 2006 & 2010)
1:41.04 – 1500m World Record (11 Dec. 2009 – current)
1:06.42 – 1000m World Record (7 March 2009 – current)
1 – Olympic Gold Medal needed to become first male speedskater and first U.S. man (any sport) to win in three different Olympic Winter Games.
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