Sport
Olympic medal hopeful Shani Davis shows no sign of slowing down at 31
U.S. sprint skater Shani Davis. PHOTO/Alexei Filippov/AP
Shani Davis will have a shot to make history at the Sochi Winter Olympics after capturing another title in one of his signature events, edging Brian Hansen by a hundredth of a second in the 1,000 meters at the U.S. speedskating trials Sunday.
Davis won gold in that race at the last two Olympics.
No male skater has ever won the same event at 3 straight Winter Games.
“Any time I step out on the ice and I put my hood on, I have something to prove,” said Davis, who at 31 is preparing for what will likely be his final Olympics. “I’ve been doing it for 25 years. I just love being the position I’m in now. Years ago, I never would’ve thought I would be as good as I am now. I’m just so thankful that I’m here.”
Davis has locked up at least 2 events in Sochi, also claiming a spot in the 500, and is favored in the still-to-come 1,500, in which he won silver medals at the last two Olympics. In addition, there is a chance he will take part in the team pursuit, a race he passed on at previous Olympics because he did not want to affect preparations for his individual events.
The 23-year-old Hansen came up just short in the final group, crossing the line in 1:07.53.
“I’m the older brother to all these young guys,” Davis said. “I’m just trying to keep them at bay.”
Hansen respects what Davis means to the sport, but he is eager to make his mark in Sochi. “It’s exciting for me,” Hansen said. “I’m happy for Shani that he’s going for such a great achievement. At the same time, I am hoping I can put down my best race come Sochi. That is the nature of sport.”
Davis relishes the competition from a teammate. “It is only going to make us stronger,” he said. “They are pushing me. I am pushing them. We are all striving to be the best we can be.”
Davis knows what it’s like to be an Olympic favorite. In Sochi, he will attempt to join Bonnie Blair of the U.S. and Germany’s Claudia Pechstein as the only skaters to pull off a three-peat. Blair won the 500 in 1988, 1992 and 1994, while Pechstein took the 5,000 title in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press