Shani Davis, born in Chicago, Illinois, became the first African-American to win a World Speed Skating Title when he won the 1500 m in 2004. The following year he set a new World Record in 1500 m during the World Championship Qualifier in Salt Lake City, before winning the World Allround Championships in Moscow later the same year.

In November 2005 he set a new 1000 m World Record, and at the Torino Olympics 2006 he became Olympic champion on this distance.

Davis was introduced to skating by his mother, at the age of six. He did both short track skating and speed skating, becoming the first American to make two junior world teams in one year, a feat he accomplished three years in a row - 2000, 2001 and 2002. In 2004 Davis became the first U.S. skater to make Senior World Teams in both disciplines in the same season.

Davis was U.S. Junior Short Track Champion 2001 and 2002. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic short track team in 2002, without participating in any competitions. In 2004 he was on the U.S. team that placed 8th in the relay in the World Short Track Championships. He aimed to compete in both short track and long track at the Torino Olympics, but failed to qualify for the American short track team.

Highest rank on the Adelskalender: 2 (2005)

By Bjarte Hetland, last updated February 19, 2006