11 December 2016 – Heerenveen, THE NETHERLANDS
Another race, another milestone for Shani Davis.
Racing in the final World Cup event on the ISU’s fall calendar, Shani became the all-time World Cup points leader while earning his second trip to the podium on the season.
In the speedskating-crazed town where he’s had so many memorable races, including his most recent World Championship title in 2015, Shani took 1000m silver (1:08.57) just behind season points-leader Kjeld Nuis (1:08.21), reminding everyone that he’s still a contender to win any 1000m race he enters.
Although a 41st World Cup 1000m victory eluded him, Davis’ lionhearted effort came at just the right time:
“I needed that one,” said Shani. “It’s been a grind…lots of travel and lots of racing after a lot of hard training. I feel like I was starting to run on fumes.”
Earning 80 World Cup points with his 90th career individual WC medal, Shani’s 12-year total of 13,034 moves him past Jeremy Wotherspoon, the Canadian sprinter who amassed 13,009 points over a 15-year career from 1996-2010.
Davis now returns to the States to prepare for the US Championships in Salt Lake City in early January.
[Photo Credit: Martin de Jong]