CANADA: WINTER OLYMPICS VANCOUVER 2010 - American Shani Davis proud of prime time achievement

Record ID: 783424

  • Title: CANADA: WINTER OLYMPICS VANCOUVER 2010 - American Shani Davis proud of prime time achievement
  • Date: 19th February 2010
  • Summary: VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (FEBRUARY 17, 2010) (REUTERS) OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST, SHANI DAVIS ENTERS NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (English) OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST, SHANI DAVIS SAYING: "I am a firm believer in what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I feel like I am a pretty strong guy and I feel like I can endure a lot of things. But all aside of that I am just happy more than anything that, that was then and this is now. It seems like everyone seemed to move forward and making history we won six medals today so in order to make progress you have got to move forward. We have allowed the best athletes to compete and those are athletes that are positive and happy athletes." NEWS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (English) OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST, SHANI DAVIS SAYING: "That was prime time tonight so people who were watching speed skating saw it prime time when they went home from work or school it was on T.V. Whereas before it was on the internet and they had to look at results or read them in the newspaper the next day so I mean I think it has more of an instant effect it being here and I think that is going to be the biggest thing in making speed skating grow in America or now in the world." NEWS CONFERENCE WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Canada
  • Country: Canada
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEUS5GQ81F5XQGOEC5K48X1SEP
  • Story Text: American Shani Davis became the first man to win two Olympic 1,000 meters speedskating titles when he repeated his Turin triumph Wednesday (February 17) at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
    Davis, whose victory in 2006 made him the first black athlete to win an individual Winter Games medal, won with a time of one minute 8.94 seconds.
    The American, skating in the last pair, shaved 18 hundredths off the target set by Mo Tae-bum of South Korea.
    Mo, who won Monday's 500 meters title, finished second in 1:09.12 ahead of American Chad Hedrick, 32, who took the bronze in 1:09.32.
    World champion and world record holder Davis rejoiced by thrusting both arms in the air after crossing the finish line. He high-fived some members of the U.S. squad and then held his fingers up to indicate who was number one.
    Later in his victory lap, he shed tears of joy as he embraced a team mate.
    The medals for Davis and Hedrick, who had feuded during the Turin Games, were the first for the Americans so far in the Vancouver speedskating competition.
    According to Davis that feud is now history. "I am just happy more than anything that, that was then and this is now," he told reporters.
    Hedrick won three medals in Turin, including 5,000 meters gold.
    Mo's silver continued a brilliant showing for the Koreans, who have two silvers and two golds over the first five events.
    When asked if he felt his performance could inspire others to follow in his footsteps, Davis told reporters that the timing of his race will have played a key role.
    "That was prime time tonight so people who were watching speed skating saw it prime time when they went home from work or school it was on T.V., " said Davis.
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