Trailblazing Olympic speedskater Shani Davis shares his love of the sport with Anchorage youths
Feb. 18—Even decades ago, John Monroe knew Shani Davis had a knack for connecting with people.
Monroe, who is program director for the Anchorage Skate Club, coached the speedskater when Davis a 16-year-old phenom in a U.S. Skating development program in Lake Placid, New York.
Davis' ease and ability to communicate was on display Thursday evening at the Cuddy Family Midtown Park skating oval as he guided local skaters through drills and gave advice on technique.
"Shani hasn't changed," Monroe said. "He's the same person he was when I was coaching 25 years ago. He loves people, he loves having fun. You could see a couple times, the magic words, 'Follow me.' "
It was the first of multiple public appearances that Davis, a two-time Olympic gold medal speedskater, is scheduled to make in Anchorage this weekend.
On Friday evening, Davis joined Anchorage families back at Cuddy Park for a night of ice skating. He was joined by multiple decorated Alaska-based Olympians who ventured out for the event, including figure skater Keegan Messing and Nordic skiers Holly Brooks and Sadie Bjornsen.
Sporting sweatpants, a puffy jacket and knit beanie, Davis made casual laps on the ice, and at one point he challenged a group of small children to a friendly race, letting them duke it out for the gold.
His Saturday schedule includes an appearance at the Bettye Davis African American Summit, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. He will also attend a family skate at Westchester Lagoon at 3 p.m. and a meet-and-greet with Special Olympics Alaska at 6 p.m.
Davis' trip to Anchorage was organized by a coalition that included Anchorage Skates, Anchorage Skate Club, Alaska Speedskating Club, Alaska Black Caucus and private donors.
Davis is one of the most decorated speedskaters in American history, with 11 world championships and four Olympic medals.
His gold in the 1,000-meter race at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, was historic, making Davis the first Black athlete to win an individual event at the Winter Olympics. He followed that up with a gold in the same event four years later at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C.
Monroe said as a teenager, Davis was part of a contingent that traveled to compete in Asia, stopping over in Los Angeles for a youth skating clinic. He said even then, Davis was able to translate enthusiasm for the sport.
"The other juniors were good at working with the little kids, but this guy, it was like the Pied Piper," Monroe said. "Eighteen kids this high, and they couldn't get them off the ice. He's always had the instinct to show this is fun, this is cool."
Davis retired from competition in 2019 and has done some coaching in the ensuing years.
"I really like coaching club level," he said. "More like grassroots development. I feel like it's easier start them off on the right path than to acquire them along the way after they've been taught the wrong way. So whenever I get an opportunity to do something like this, it brings me a lot of joy."
Despite his status as a trailblazer in the sport, Davis said skating in Black communities hasn't taken off. That's in part due to access, which he was fortunate to have, but few families can realize.
"I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and the nearest club to my house was in Evanston (Illinois)," he said. "That's 45 minutes to an hour every Tuesday and Thursday. I don't know too many parents that want to get off work at 5:30 to come home, then drive an hour away and drive an hour back on a school night. It's not easily accessible."
Davis has been an undeniable role model for his on-ice achievements. But he believes his real legacy is how he mentored and treated younger athletes, a benefit he didn't always enjoy in his early years.
"When I got bigger, I always promised myself that I would make time for the kids and do what I can for them," he said. "I have a lot of great skaters that are developing, doing a lot of big things in the world, and I'm happy that I had that relationship. And I'm just happy to see I'm passing it on to another generation, and hopefully someday, they'll do the same."
