Davis Wins U.S.
Speedskating Athlete of the Year Award
CLEVELAND,
Ohio (April 18, 2005) - After an
exceptionally rewarding year, Shani Davis was
named U.S. Speedskating's Athlete of the Year.
Davis, who competed
in both long and short track, not only won
medals at World Championships and World Cups,
but set a new world record of 1:43.33 in the
1500-meters (long track) and was crowned the
World Allround Champion. For the third
consecutive year, Davis clinched the overall
title in the allround competition at the U.S.
Long Track Speedskating Championships.
In short track,
Davis won a bronze medal at the World
Championships in the men's relay event. Davis
was also a member of the relay team that set a
new American record (6:46.668) at the World Cup
2.
According to Andy
Gabel, President of U.S. Speedskating, "Shani
completed a remarkable season, competing in both
long track and short at the same time,
with great success in each discipline.
Considering the incredible talent level
across the U.S. athletes, Shani's
accomplishments make him a well deserved winner
of this prestigious award."
Davis's
accomplishments did not go unheralded by the
mainstream press. The international media
covered his speedskating feats and was named
Athlete of the Week by USA Today (Jan. 11,
2005), Athlete of the Month by Chicago Magazine
(March 2005) and was featured in Sports
Illustrated (March 14, 2005).
** Be sure to visit
the website (www.usspeedskating.org)
and click on the heading to view some of the
articles written on Davis this past year.**
Melissa Scott
Director, Public and Media Relations
U.S. Speedskating
Blackberry: 440-610-1129
Office: 440-899-0128
www.usspeedskating.org
|