The 1st Black Olympic Speedskating Gold Medalist
 

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Congratulations Shani Davis


Article from Chicago Tribune

TURIN, Italy -- Most of those saluting Shani Davis with a standing ovation Saturday night wouldn't know the White Sox from the Cubs.

But they knew what they had just witnessed from the 23-year-old American wearing the cap of his favorite World Series champions, and they had no trouble identifying him as an Olympic champion.

Davis grew up on the South Side, took up speedskating at 6 despite skepticism that black kids aren't speedskaters, battled the U.S. skating establishment with his mother Cherie over a litany of issues and was the subject of widespread criticism last week for skipping a team race.

But he got the last word in the 1,000 meters.

The world record-holder, Davis became the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympics history by finishing in 1 minute 8.89 seconds. American Joey Cheek took the silver in 1:09.16, and Erben Wennemars of the Netherlands won the bronze.

"I've always joked around with my friends ... `I want to win that 1,000 meters someday,'" Davis said. "Just jokingly. I would've never known when I was 12 years old that when I'm 23, I would win an Olympic gold medal.

"It's just a great feeling, and it shows that even though the road is rough, you have to work hard and [weather] the storm. You have to ride it out because eventually, if you work hard enough, you'll get your chance to try to do something great."

Congrats to him!

Did anyone happen to catch that moment on TV? Quite interesting.

I heard about it thanks to Steve Harvey.

What did Steve Harvey say about it?

How the win and things preceding the win was controversial -- Davis and mom receiving hate filled e-mails, Chad H. not being a very supportive/encouraging teammate, media, etc.

Golf, tennis, figure skating, gymnastics, hockey....now speedskating. Just give Blacks a chance and we will excel in even 'white' sports.

Congrats to brother Shani!

The race itself was cool to watch (I might even say invigorating! :cool: ) .

I thought you'd meant the interview(s) afterwards with Davis. That was, at the very least, interesting. My friends and I were a little put off at first, but learning of all the hoopla that surrounded him it makes his demeanor more understandable.

enigma_AKA

I actually caught the race- sort of by accident. The tv just happened to be on that channel, I was too lazy to look for the remote or get up and turn... well you can figure out the rest. :D

I'm not into the winter Olympics because they are so boring until it's almost unbelievable so I had no idea who he was nor was I aware of any controversy surrounding him competing in this event. Congratulations to him and all the other American gold medalists.

Yes, that is what i was referring to. I was taken aback by his demeanor as well, but as I learned all the backstage drama, I understood a little. I still don't fully understand, though.

NBC ran an interview with Shani and his mom before they showed his race and basically it all boils down to a mother looking out for her child. She had issues with sponsorships and Shani not being paid properly for them.

Once I saw that interview and how Chad H bad mouthed him, I was mad. He made it seem that Team USA lost the team relay or whatever it's called because Shani decided not to race. When actually Shani wanted to give the younger members of the team a chance to skate who may not otherwise have had a chance to skate in the Olympics.

And then Chad had the nerve not to congratulate him after the race. Just a mess!

:(

ROLAND S. MARTIN: Shani Davis disrespected in his moment of glory
by Roland S. Martin, Chicago Defender
February 20, 2006

For the last 17 years, all Shani Davis has dreamt of was having a gold medal hung around his neck for speed skating.

He has withstood the teasing of seeing a Black kid in tights glide around an ice rink, rather than the track or basketball court.

Yet in the aftermath of his historic win - he's the first African American to win an individual gold medal in the history of the Winter Olympics - Davis been barraged by questions as a result a little pissant who happens to be his teammate.


The war of words started when Davis opted not to participate in the speed skating team pursuit. Hedrick came into the Olympics with a stated desire to win five gold medals, equaling the record set by Eric Heiden in 1980. But with Davis choosing to concentrate on his race, the U.S. squad wasn't as strong, and they subsequently lost in the team pursuit quarterfinals.

That's when all hell broke loose. An angry Hedrick began to toss all kinds of barbs at Davis, and the media ran with the story, questioning whether Davis was a team player by using quotes from Heiden and other former athletes. As a result, U.S. fans bombarded Davisís website with personal attacks, including calling him a nigger.

Here is a man trying to win the one thing he has trained for nearly his entire life, but he has to deal with being called a nigger - and he's representing the United States!

But a tough young man who grew up in Hyde Park, later moving to Evanston to train, Davis shut all of that out and won the gold in the 1,000 meters, an event that he is the world record holder in.

Yet what happened? He continued to be attacked by a sour puss Hedrick, who wasn't even man enough to congratulate Davis, choosing to salute the guy who came in second place!

There are some crucial issues that need to be addressed to set the record straight.

Davis isn't a team player. That's the card Hedrick and others have been playing for some time. There is no denying that Davis and his mother have had a love-hate relationship with the United States Olympic Committee. But what you may not know is that two speed skaters were added to the Olympic team to specifically skate in the team pursuit. Davis, who was passed over at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games, wanted those guys to get their shot at Olympic glory, so he passed on the team pursuit. That, ladies and gentleman, is a man who was thinking of his teammates.

Davis is selfish. He is the world record holder in the 1,000 meters. He was the prohibitive favorite to win. His win would make history. Instead of wanting to be tired when it came time for the race he has trained for, Davis opted to rest. But Hedrick was all about Hedrick. HE wanted to win five gold medals, and wanted HIS teammates to help HIM achieve HIS goal, regardless of THEIR individual goals. Since Davis didn't skate, Hedrick lost the chance to equal history. So now he turns on Davis. Talk about a prick. He deserves to be called out for his selfish behavior.

Davis wasn't more appreciative of his win. Talk about a joke. NBC's Melissa Stark wonders why he isn't smiling more after winning the gold. I guess she was looking for a modern day Sambo or Step N Fetch It. The man had been put through hell the last two days by the media, and now they wonder why he wasn't jumping for joy? Could it be that that simply isn't his personality? How about being called a nigger by people from the country you represented?

No one will ever be able to take away the history Davis made Saturday in Turin, Italy. But maybe his critics should check their own selfish interests and stop crucifying the guy. He represented America well, and did what media darlings Michelle Kwan and Bode Miller couldn't do - bring the gold home.

Roland S. Martin is executive editor of the Chicago Defender. His columns are syndicated nationally by Creators Syndicate, and is a commentator for TV One Cable Network. He can be heard daily on WVON-AM/1450 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. He can be reached at rmartin@chicagodefender.comor (312) 225-2400, ext. 130.

http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/...ArticleID=4092

I understand it fully. Just as I understood the raised Black Power fists years ago.

I understand it as well. :cool:

Thanks abaici for posting this. Now I have a much better picture of the story.

I am very happy for Shani. He and his mom have sacrificed so much to pursue a dream. I wish him continued success.