Jack & Jill Politics

In honor of the beginning of the Winter Olympics in Calgary, today’s Black notable is Shani Davis.

Shani Davis (born August 13, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American speed skater who competes in both short track and long track speed skating.

At the 2006 Winter Olympics, Davis became the first black athlete to win a gold medal in an individual Winter Games sport (1,000 m) and the fifth black Winter Olympics medalist. He also won the silver in the 1,500 m. He won the allround World Allround Championships in both 2005 and 2006, after winning the silver medal in 2004, and won the World Single Distance Championships 1,500 m in both 2004 and 2008. Davis has set a total of eight world records, three of them current (as of March 9, 2009): 1:06.42 in the 1,000 m, 1:41.04 in the 1,500 m, and 145.742 in the allround samalog. On January 18, 2009 he won the World Sprint Championships in Moscow, which was also the site of his first World Allround Championship victory. By winning he became the 4th American to win the sprint championship, and the second male skater to have won both the Sprint and Allround in their career.

At 6′ 2″ (188 cm), Davis is the tallest American speed skater. He currently trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility, The Pettit National Ice Center in West Allis, Wisconsin.

TITLES:
Men’s speed skating
Competitor for the United States
Olympic Games
Gold 2006 Turin 1000 m
Silver 2006 Turin 1500 m
World Championships
Gold 2007 Salt Lake City 1000 m
Gold 2008 Nagano 1000 m
Gold 2004 Seoul 1500 m
Gold 2007 Salt Lake City 1500 m
Gold 2009 Vancouver 1500 m
Gold 2009 Moscow Sprint
Gold 2006 Calgary Allround
Gold 2005 Moscow Allround
Silver 2008 Nagano 1500 m
Silver 2004 Hamar Allround
Bronze 2009 Vancouver 1000 m
Bronze 2007 Hamar Sprint
Bronze 2008 Berlin Allround
Men’s short track speed skating
World Championships
Gold 2005 Beijing 5000 m relay

His Official Website.

Documentary on Davis on DUTCH Television – a little Dutch, but a lot in English. Need I ask why no AMERICAN television outlet did this documentary?
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

GOOD LUCK AT THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS.