Alex Hideo Shibutani (born April 25, 1991) is an American ice dancer. Partnering with his sister Maia Shibutani, he is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist (2018), three-time World Medalist (silver in 2016, bronze in 2011 and 2017), Four Continents champion 2016 and two national champions ( 2016, 2017). The Shibutanis also won six titles in the Grand Prix and silver medals at the Junior World Championships in 2009. They are members of two US Olympic teams, competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In 2018, they became the first Asian ice dancers to win medals at the Olympics (bronze in team skating and ice dance). They are the second brother duo to ever share an Olympic medallion of ice dancing, and the first from the United States.
Video Alex Shibutani
Personal life
Alex Hideo Shibutani was born on April 25, 1991 in Boston. He is the son of Chris and Naomi Shibutani, both Japanese descendants, who meet as Harvard musicians. She has a younger sister, Maia Shibutani who competes with her as her partner for ice dancing. He attended Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, during the late 1990s before moving to Colorado Springs from 2005 to 2007 and then Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2007.
While in Colorado Springs, Alex Shibutani attended the Cheyenne High School and finished second year there. He completed his junior and senior years in high school at Huron High School and entered the University of Michigan in the fall semester of 2009.
Maps Alex Shibutani
Careers
Initial career
Alex Shibutani started skating at the age of seven. He was originally trained as a sole skater and competed up to the juvenile level on singles. In March 2003, he and his family attended the World Championships in Washington DC He said, "We were sitting close to the ice in the second row, and when the ice dancers came out for their warm up, we really could feel the gust from the moment the skaters flew. We were very impressed with the art, quality of skating, and top team speed we decided to try it out. "
season 2004-2005
Maia and Alex Shibutani worked together to compete in ice dance in spring 2004. Their single coach, Kathy Bird, arranged for them to work with their first dancing coach Andy Stroukoff and Susie Kelley. Shibutan also worked with Mary Marchiselli. During their teenage season, their program was choreographed by Josh Babb.
During the 2004-2005 season, their first competitive season, they competed at the juvenile level, which is the lowest level of competition in the US Figure Skating testing structure. During the season, Alex Shibutani represented Hickory Hill Figure Skating Club in the competition. They competed at the 2005 North Atlantic Regional Championship, a qualifying competition for the US Junior Championships, and won the competition. The win gave them qualification for the US Junior Championships in 2005. In that competition, they finished second in the first mandatory dance, the fourth at the second mandatory dance, and the third in a free dance, ending with a silver medal.
season 2005-2006
After rising to intermediate level and performing well in non-qualifying competition, Shibutanis went to Colorado Springs, Colorado to work with choreographer Tom Dickson. During the season, they were trained by Judy Blumberg on the east coast. After performing better than expected at the Lake Placid Ice Dance Competition in the summer of 2005, Shibutan decided to move the training center to a better training environment and move to training in Colorado Springs under head coach Patti Gottwein. During that time, they also worked with Rich Griffin, Damon Allen, and Eric Schulz.
Alex Shibutani changed his club's representation to the Broadmoor Skating Club, where he and his sister were trained. Shibutanis won the Southwest Regional Championships, their qualifying competition for the U.S. Junior Championships 2006. At the 2006 US Junior Championships, they finished second in the first mandatory dance and then won the second and obligatory dance to win the title as a whole. They worked as guest bloggers and helpers for media staff for Figure Skating AS at the 2006 US Championship, and again at the Four Continents 2006, held in Colorado Springs.
season 2006-2007
Shibutanis rise to beginner level, which is the first and lowest of the three competing levels in the US Championships. At the 2007 Midwestern Sektional Championships, their qualifying competition for the national championship, Shibutan competed under the ISU Review System for the first time. They took second place in the first mandatory dance and then won the second mandatory and free dance to win the overall competition and qualify for the 2007 US Championships. At Nationals, Shibutan was second in both mandatory dances and then won a free dance to win the gold medal. beginner with a margin of 2.06 points victory in front of silver medalist Sara Bailey & Kyle Herring. This is their second successive national title.
After the 2007 US Championships, Shibutan transformed the coach to Igor Shpilband and Marina Zueva in Canton, Michigan. One factor in the decision to change the coach was the university problem for Alex Shibutani, who at the time of the coaching change, had two years left of high school and was considering his university options.
season 2007-2008
Shibutanis rise to junior level nationally. However, they can not compete internationally at the junior level because Maia is not old enough. At Sectionals Midwestern 2008, Shibutanis occupies fourth position in mandatory dance and then third in original dance and is free to win an overall bronze medal. These medals gave them qualifications for the 2008 US Championships. At the Nationals, they ranked 7th in mandatory dance, 2 in original dance, and 4th in free dance. They finished fourth overall, winning a tin medal.
The 2008-2009 season: Silver in the Junior World Championships
Maia Shibutani becomes an eligible age to compete in international junior circuits. The brothers made their junior international debut at ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP). At their first event, the 2008-09 Junior Grand Prix event in Courchevel, France, they finished second in the mandatory dance and then won the original dance and were free to win the overall gold medal by a margin of 11.00 points win over the medal silver medalist Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill. They were then assigned to their second event, an event in Madrid, Spain. In this event, they finished second in all three segments of the competition and won the silver medal. These two medals qualify for the Junior ISP Junior 2008-09 Final Grand Prix, for which they are third-ranked qualifiers. Qualifications for the event also qualify them for the 2009 US Championship.
The Junior Grand Prix Final was held in conjunction with the senior final for the first time and so did not have the mandatory dance segment. Shibutanis occupies the 7th position in the original dance and 3rd in free dance, ending in fourth position overall.
Shibutanis went on to the 2009 US Championship, where they competed at junior level for the second year in a row. At the event, Shibutan was in second place in mandatory dance, original dance, and free dance. They won the overall silver medal marking their fifth consecutive podium at a national level competition. After the competition, Shibutanis were named to the team to the Junior World Championship 2009.
In Junior World, Shibutan is placed in 5th position in mandatory dance, 4th in original dance, and the 2nd in free dance. At the age of 14 and 17 years, they won a silver medal.
season 2009-2010
Shibutan won their second JGP event and won a bronze medal at JGP Final. They drove back at junior level at the US Nationals, they won. In 2010 Junior Worlds, they completed the podium in fourth place. This is their last junior event.
2010-2011 season: The bronze medal world
Shibutanis move to senior level. They finished fifth at the 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy, up from eighth after a short dance with a powerful free dance performance. They won bronze medals at both NHK Trophy 2010 and 2010 Skate America, making them the first dance team to win medals in both Grand Prix events in his first senior season. They are the first alternative to the Grand Prix final.
The Shibutanis took second place in the US Nationals and was chosen to compete in the Four Continents and World Championships. They won a silver medal on the Four Continents. At the World Championships, they are in fourth after a short dance, 4.09 points behind third position Nathalie PÃÆ' Â © chalat/Fabian Bourzat. In a free dance, they scored 4.34 in front of Pechalat and Bourzat, both of which fell. The Shibutanis finished third overall with 0.25 points and won bronze on their World Championships debut, a feat even Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the current Olympic Champions, have been reached.
season 2011-2012
The Shibutanis started their season with a silver medal at the Finnish Cup of 2011. Starting their Grand Prix season, they won silver in the 2011 China Cup. A week later they placed first in the 2011 NHK Trophy, edging Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje for gold with 0.09 points. It was the first senior Shibutanis Grand Prix title. Their combined results qualify them for the Final Grand Prix.
The Shibutanis occupies the 4th position in the Four Continents 2012 and 8 in the 2012 World Championships.
Invited by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Shibutan attended a dinner in honor of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on May 1, 2012, in Washington, D.C.
After the dismissal of Igor Shpilband from Arctic Edge Arena in June 2012, Shibutan decided to remain in the arena with Marina Zoueva and end their collaboration with Shpilband.
season 2012-2013
Shibutanis finished third in a short dance in the Rostelecom Cup in 2012. They stopped their free-dancing for half a minute as Alex pulled a muscle in his thigh. They were allowed to proceed from the point of interruption and finished fourth overall behind Russian ice dancers Victoria Sinitsina and Ruslan Zhiganshin. They won a bronze medal at the next event, the 2012 NHK Cup. The Shibutanis also took bronze in the US Championship in 2013. They then competed in the Four Continents of 2013 and finished fourth behind Madison Chock and Evan Bates. At the 2013 World Championships, Shibutan ended in 8th place.
season 2013-2014
The Shibutanis started their season by winning bronze medals at the 2013 Skate America and the 2013 NHK Trophy. They then won a bronze medal in the US Championship in 2014 and named in the US team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. They placed 9th in the Olympics. The Shibutanis also compete in the 2014 World Championships, where they are placed 6th.
season 2014-2015
The Shibutanis started their season by winning a gold medal in the 2014 Ondrej Nepela Trophy. They then won a silver medal in Skate America 2014. At the 2014 Ice Challenge, Shibutan won the gold medal. They then proceed to compete in their second Grand Prix event, the 2014 China Cup, where they won a silver medal. Their results in the Grand Prix series qualify them for the 2014-15 Final Grand Prix, where they are in 4th position.
At the US Championships in the US, the pair won a silver medal behind Madison Chock and Evan Bates. They then continue to compete in the 2015 Continental Championship and the 2015 World Championships where they are placed each of the 3rd and 5th.
season 2015-2016: Return to the World podium
The Shibutanis started their season by winning a bronze medal in the 2015 Ondrej Nepela Trophy. At the Grand Prix circuit, they get standing ovations for Fix You, their Coldplay free dance. They won a silver medal in 2015 Skate Canada International and a gold medal in the 2015 NHK Trophy, for their second Grand Prix career title.
They qualify for the 2015-16 Final Grand Prix as the fourth-ranked team based on qualifying criteria that have been modified in an effort to account for the partially canceled Trophee Bompard events. Combination of their short dance and free dance from the NHK Trophy with 174.43 points is the highest total score among all competitors during the Grand Prix season. At the Final Grand Prix, they occupy the 4th position in a short dance. The night before the free dance, Alex became severely ill from food poisoning. They chose to stay competitive, and managed to get another applause for their free dance. They occupy the 4th position in the free and 4th dance as a whole. They resigned from the exhibition for Alex to recover.
At the 2016 US Championship, Shibutan came second behind Madison Chock and Evan Bates during a short dance, but moved in a free-dance to win their first senior US title. They get a standing ovation from the audience in both segments of the competition.
The next Shibutanis compete in the 2016 Continent Championship. They set their personal best and finish first in both segments of the competition for their first ISU Championship title.
The Shibutanis ended their season at the 2016 World Skating Championships. There, they set new personal bests and finished second in both segments of the competition for their second world medal.
season 2016-2017
At the 2017 US Championship, Shibutan won their second national title; they point out Chock/Bates with 1.01 points after putting first in the short and second dance in free dance. The brothers took silver in Four Australian Continents in Gangneung (South Korea), having ranked second in both segments for Canadian Welfare/Moir.
At the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki (Finland), they were ranked fifth in a short and fourth dance in free dance, ending third overall with a margin of 0.37 over Canada Weaver/Poje. The brothers received their third world medal, bronze.
season 2017-2018
The Shibutanis made their season debut at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup. They scored 77.30 in a short dance and 111.94 in free dance to place first in both segments and win the gold medal, with 189.24 points. At their second GP event, Skate America 2017, they again won a short and free dance for a total of 194.25 and the first place overall, qualifying for the Final Grand Prix in Nagoya. In the Grand Prix Final, they won their second bronze medal in a row.
At the US Skating Figure Skating Championship of 2018, Shibutan placed first in a short and third dance in free dance, placing them second overall behind Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue. They returned to the 2018 Winter Olympics, favorites to get a medal in an ice dance event. They performed short and free dances in team skating events, helping the USA Team win a bronze medal. The Shibutanis then defeated fellow Americans Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue for bronze medals in an ice dance. Maia and Alex received a 77.73 short dance score, a 114.86 free dance score, and a total score of 192.59. They are the only Americans who get a medal in their respective events.
Program
Competitive highlights
GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Grand Prix Junior
(with Maia Shibutani)
Senior results
Junior Results
Detailed results
(with Maia Shibutani)
Senior results
Existence of social media and television appearance
Maia and Alex Shibutani are one of the most active Olympic sports athletes involved in several social media platforms. Their YouTube channel @ShibSibs, founded in 2012, includes 95 videos that have been viewed nearly nine million times by more than 157,000 subscribers, as of April 2018. The videos consist of various formats including behind-the-scenes montages of their worldwide travel for training, exhibitions and competitions. Among the popular music videos are lip synch with players including popular Olympic skater figures and gymnasts from around the world, including Yuzuru Hanyu and Mao Asada, Michelle Kwan, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, Javier Fernandez, Adam Rippon, Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Video created (including shooting, editing) entirely by Shibutanis.
Their instagram and twitter accounts (@maiashibutani, @alexshibutani) have been marked as accounts to be followed by various media accounts including global media publications such as the New York Times as "Olympian Instagram Account to follow."
Shibutan is a guest on the Nickelodeon television show, Nicky Ricky Dicky & amp; Dawn appeared as themselves during the 304 episode broadcast in 2017. They have made several appearances on NBC's Today Today, including for skate performances at the Rockefeller Center arena and for introducing Ralph Lauren outfits designed for the 2018 US Olympic team.
Philanthropy and diplomacy
- In 2017, Shibutanis was named the Sports Authority by the US Department of State, joining the list of selected skater players, including Michelle Kwan and Evan Lysacek, who have been named for this role in the past.
- The Right To Play Athlete's Ambassador since 2013
- LA2028 Member of the Athletic Advisory Committee. Active engagement in the successful bid that brought the 2028 Summer Olympics back to the US. Shibutanis participated in a panel presentation at the US Olympic Media Summit, joining LA2028 Chairman Casey Wasserman and Liaison Relations Manager Janet Evans.
- Other organizations and goals supported by Shibutanis through skating shows, fundraising and social media engagement support include: The Jimmy Fund (through Harvard An Evening with Champions), Charity: Water (where Maia collects more than $ 10,000 as part of her 2017 birthday campaign), Boston One Fund Campaign, and NOH8.
Awards and honor
- Maia Shibutani is the recipient twice (2012, 2014) from Travel & amp; Grant Training from Women's Sports Foundation
- The siblings are two-time winners of the Edi Award from the Professional Skaters Association for an outstanding ice dance performance in the US Nationals
- The Shibutanis have won several times the "Team of the Month" award of the US Olympic Committee (including in October 2017 and December 2017) for their competitive achievements while representing the USA Team internationally.
Partnerships and brand sponsors
- Tumi Inc. - brand ambassadors
- Ralph Lauren Corporation - officially sponsored athlete along with fellow Olympic athletes Gus Kenworthy, Aja Evans, Jamie Anderson and Paralympian Rico Roman.
- Intel - Global Team of Athletes Athletes for the 2018 Winter Olympics
- Coca-Cola Corporation Minute Servers
- Company Hershey Ice Breaker
- Brand of Smucker Bones
References
External links
- Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani at International Skating Union
- Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani on IceNetwork.com
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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