Latest news with #U.S.FigureSkating
Hamilton Spectator
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
US ice dancers Alex and Maia Shibutani come out of retirement with an eye on 2026 Olympics
The Shib Sibs are making a comeback with an eye on more Olympic figure skating medals. The popular brother-sister ice dance team of Alex and Maia Shibutani announced Thursday they will return to competition this season in the hopes of making the loaded American squad for the next year's Milan-Cortina Games. The 34-year-old Alex and the 30-year-old Maia have skated together most of their lives, and for a long stretch were the dominant U.S. ice dancers . They are three-time world medalists and two-time Olympians, finishing ninth at the 2014 Sochi Games and third at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where they also were part of the American squad that won a team bronze medal . The Shibutanis stepped away from competition after those Olympics, choosing to focus on school and other interests. They have authored four children's books and worked as choreographers and ambassadors for diversity and representation. They extended their hiatus when Maia Shibutani was diagnosed with a malignant tumor on her kidney in 2019. She underwent surgery to remove the mass, and additional treatment resulted in a long, painful recovery. 'These past seven years have challenged and inspired us in ways we never expected,' Maia Shibutani said. 'I'm so happy and grateful to be healthy and in a position to make the decision to return to the sport I love in this way.' The Shibutanis continued to skate in exhibitions over the years, and they remained close to the Olympic movement, albeit in a different way. Last summer, Alex Shibutani worked as a photographer and Maia Shibutani did media work at the Paris Olympics, where U.S. figure skaters were finally awarded their team gold medals from the 2022 Beijing Games. Now, the Shibutanis hope to be on the next American squad headed to the Olympics. They will be training with longtime coach Marina Zoueva and Massimo Scali, who recently helped Alysa Liu return from her own brief retirement to win the first women's world title for a U.S. figure skater in nearly two decades. It won't be easy for the Shibutanis to make the team for the Milano-Cortina Games. Madison Chock and Evan Bates just won their third consecutive ice dance world title and will be prohibitive favorites to stand atop the Olympic podium, while Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko were fifth at worlds and Caroline Green and Michael Parsons were ninth. The U.S. has qualified the maximum three ice dance teams for the Winter Games, which means someone will be left out. 'As Olympic medalists and U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famers, it's incredibly exciting to have Maia and Alex return to competition next season,' said Justin Dillon, the senior director of athlete high performance for U.S. Figure Skating. 'They are strong ambassadors for the sport, both on and off the ice. Their comeback adds to the excitement surrounding Team USA after a very successful year and makes the team stronger as we look toward the Olympic season.' ___ AP sports:
Fox Sports
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
US ice dancers Alex and Maia Shibutani come out of retirement with an eye on 2026 Olympics
Associated Press The Shib Sibs are making a comeback with an eye on more Olympic figure skating medals. The popular brother-sister ice dance team of Alex and Maia Shibutani announced Thursday they will return to competition this season in the hopes of making the loaded American squad for the next year's Milan-Cortina Games. The 34-year-old Alex and the 30-year-old Maia have skated together most of their lives, and for a long stretch were the dominant U.S. ice dancers. They are three-time world medalists and two-time Olympians, finishing ninth at the 2014 Sochi Games and third at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where they also were part of the American squad that won a team bronze medal. The Shibutanis stepped away from competition after those Olympics, choosing to focus on school and other interests. They have authored four children's books and worked as choreographers and ambassadors for diversity and representation. They extended their hiatus when Maia Shibutani was diagnosed with a malignant tumor on her kidney in 2019. She underwent surgery to remove the mass, and additional treatment resulted in a long, painful recovery. 'These past seven years have challenged and inspired us in ways we never expected," Maia Shibutani said. 'I'm so happy and grateful to be healthy and in a position to make the decision to return to the sport I love in this way.' The Shibutanis continued to skate in exhibitions over the years, and they remained close to the Olympic movement, albeit in a different way. Last summer, Alex Shibutani worked as a photographer and Maia Shibutani did media work at the Paris Olympics, where U.S. figure skaters were finally awarded their team gold medals from the 2022 Beijing Games. Now, the Shibutanis hope to be on the next American squad headed to the Olympics. They will be training with longtime coach Marina Zoueva and Massimo Scali, who recently helped Alysa Liu return from her own brief retirement to win the first women's world title for a U.S. figure skater in nearly two decades. It won't be easy for the Shibutanis to make the team for the Milano-Cortina Games. Madison Chock and Evan Bates just won their third consecutive ice dance world title and will be prohibitive favorites to stand atop the Olympic podium, while Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko were fifth at worlds and Caroline Green and Michael Parsons were ninth. The U.S. has qualified the maximum three ice dance teams for the Winter Games, which means someone will be left out. 'As Olympic medalists and U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famers, it's incredibly exciting to have Maia and Alex return to competition next season,' said Justin Dillon, the senior director of athlete high performance for U.S. Figure Skating. 'They are strong ambassadors for the sport, both on and off the ice. Their comeback adds to the excitement surrounding Team USA after a very successful year and makes the team stronger as we look toward the Olympic season.' ___ AP sports: in this topic
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
US ice dancers Alex and Maia Shibutani come out of retirement with an eye on 2026 Olympics
The Shib Sibs are making a comeback with an eye on more Olympic figure skating medals. The popular brother-sister ice dance team of Alex and Maia Shibutani announced Thursday they will return to competition this season in the hopes of making the loaded American squad for the next year's Milan-Cortina Games. The 34-year-old Alex and the 30-year-old Maia have skated together most of their lives, and for a long stretch were the dominant U.S. ice dancers. They are three-time world medalists and two-time Olympians, finishing ninth at the 2014 Sochi Games and third at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where they also were part of the American squad that won a team bronze medal. The Shibutanis stepped away from competition after those Olympics, choosing to focus on school and other interests. They have authored four children's books and worked as choreographers and ambassadors for diversity and representation. They extended their hiatus when Maia Shibutani was diagnosed with a malignant tumor on her kidney in 2019. She underwent surgery to remove the mass, and additional treatment resulted in a long, painful recovery. 'These past seven years have challenged and inspired us in ways we never expected,' Maia Shibutani said. 'I'm so happy and grateful to be healthy and in a position to make the decision to return to the sport I love in this way.' The Shibutanis continued to skate in exhibitions over the years, and they remained close to the Olympic movement, albeit in a different way. Last summer, Alex Shibutani worked as a photographer and Maia Shibutani did media work at the Paris Olympics, where U.S. figure skaters were finally awarded their team gold medals from the 2022 Beijing Games. Now, the Shibutanis hope to be on the next American squad headed to the Olympics. They will be training with longtime coach Marina Zoueva and Massimo Scali, who recently helped Alysa Liu return from her own brief retirement to win the first women's world title for a U.S. figure skater in nearly two decades. It won't be easy for the Shibutanis to make the team for the Milano-Cortina Games. Madison Chock and Evan Bates just won their third consecutive ice dance world title and will be prohibitive favorites to stand atop the Olympic podium, while Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko were fifth at worlds and Caroline Green and Michael Parsons were ninth. The U.S. has qualified the maximum three ice dance teams for the Winter Games, which means someone will be left out. 'As Olympic medalists and U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famers, it's incredibly exciting to have Maia and Alex return to competition next season,' said Justin Dillon, the senior director of athlete high performance for U.S. Figure Skating. 'They are strong ambassadors for the sport, both on and off the ice. Their comeback adds to the excitement surrounding Team USA after a very successful year and makes the team stronger as we look toward the Olympic season.' ___ AP sports:
CNA
01-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Figure skating-Shibutanis returning to ice dance ahead of Milano Cortina Olympics
American ice dance siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani are returning to competitive figure skating, seven years after the two-times Olympic bronze medallists announced their retirement when Maia was diagnosed with cancer. The Shibutanis - known in the skating world as the "Shib Sibs" - plan to compete in the 2025-26 Olympic season under the guidance of coaches Marina Zoueva and Massimo Scali. "These past seven years have challenged and inspired us in ways we never expected. I'm so happy and grateful to be healthy and in a position to make the decision to return to the sport I love in this way," 30-year-old Maia said. The Shibutanis are two-times U.S. champions and three-times world medallists, winning silver in 2016 and bronze in 2011 and '17. Their 2011 medal made them the youngest ice dancers - Maia was 16 and Alex, 20 - in nearly 50 years to climb the world championship medal podium. They captured bronze medals in both the ice dance and the team event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, making history as the first athletes of Asian descent - their parents are Japanese - and only non-white team to earn an Olympic ice dance medal. The siblings took a break after the Olympics which they extended after Maia was diagnosed with kidney cancer. They have kept busy during their seven years as authors of four children's books while also working in choreography, public speaking and other creative endeavours. "Our experiences and the new skills we've developed during our time away from competition have brought us different perspectives and created some exciting new possibilities," said Alex, 34. "We don't take any of this for granted. We're really enjoying the process and look forward to performing and competing together again." The Shibutanis, who began their partnership in 2004, were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2023. "As Olympic medallists and U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famers, it's incredibly exciting to have Maia and Alex return to competition next season," said U.S. Figure Skating's senior director of athlete high performance Justin Dillon. "They are strong ambassadors for the sport, both on and off the ice. Their comeback adds to the excitement surrounding Team USA after a very successful year and makes the team stronger as we look toward the Olympic season." The Shibutanis will have some competition on the U.S. team. Three-times world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates will have their sights on their first Olympic ice dance title in 2026.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-04-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
US Figure Skating hires sports executive Matt Farrell as CEO amid the run-up to the 2026 Olympics
U.S. Figure Skating has hired Matt Farrell as its CEO, tasking the longtime sports executive with leading the governing body into an Olympic year in which the American team will be favored to win gold in multiple disciplines at the Milan-Cortina Games. The organization announced his hiring on Tuesday. The 56-year-old Farrell spent 13 years as the chief marketing officer for USA Swimming, along with two stints working for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. He more recently served as the executive director of World Long Drive and started his own marketing firm, Farrell Sports, with several clients involved in the Olympic movement. 'I'm incredibly honored to step into this role at such an exciting time,' Farrell said. 'There's a fresh sense of momentum and possibility across the sport. In the months to come, I'm eager to collaborate with our amazing athletes, passionate fans and dedicated partners to keep growing the community we all care so deeply about.' Earlier this year, the U.S. took gold at the world championships in Boston in three of the four disciplines for the first time in its history. Ilia Malinin won his second consecutive men's title and is the prohibitive favorite for the 2026 Olympics, while the ice dance duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates also will be favored after winning their third straight world title. The big surprise was Alysa Liu, a member of its 2022 Olympic team who returned from a nearly two-year retirement to become the first American woman in nearly two decades to stand atop the podium at the world championships. Then, earlier this month, Liu delivered a flawless free skate to help the U.S. win its sixth gold medal at the World Team Trophy in Tokyo, making the Americans the favorites to defend their gold medal in the team event at the Winter Games. The Americans won two gold medals and a bronze at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, but they haven't won more than three figure skating medals at any Winter Games since taking four when they hosted in Squaw Valley in 1960. 'It's clear that Matt brings the expertise and vision needed to lead U.S. Figure Skating through the lead-up to the 2026 Olympics and beyond,' said Sam Auxier, who had been serving as the interim CEO ever since Tracy Marek resigned last October, and who will resume his role as board president. 'His proven leadership within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement, combined with his deep knowledge of the sports industry and bold, strategic thinking will help accelerate the sport and the organization into a new era of growth and success.' ___ AP sports:
