Skating merely? For Shani Davis, it's never that easy
GANGNEUNG, South Korea – Subsequently a disappointing 19th-place performance in the 1,500 meters here, Shani Davis approached a small gathering of American reporters.
"We will stick to skating questions," the public-relations man said, with Davis nodding at his ground rules.
Yes, skating only. If only information technology was that easy. If Shani Davis could stick to only skating, the 35-year-old might be enjoying a victory lap of sorts here no matter how he fared on the ice. In that location's never been whatever question about Davis on the ice. He's a fable.
He won a gilt (1,000) and a silver (1,500) in Turin in 2006, and duplicated the results four years later in Vancouver. So there are the slew of world championships, his sheer longevity and his pioneering condition that helped concenter a new generation of African-American long-rails speed skaters to a sport where Davis used to exist all alone.
He's ane of the most exciting speed skaters of all time. When he was introduced here before his race, fans from effectually the globe gave him a warm circular of adulation. Everyone was happy to see him skate once more, the guy who was fatigued to the sport afterward learning to roller skate growing up on the S Side of Chicago.
It's never been only skating for Davis, though. In Turin, there was a controversy over not getting picked for team pursuit. In Sochi in 2014 he blasted the USOC for a lack of support, among other things. Through the years he's battled with Nether Armour, other sponsors, the USOC, the media and competitors.
And so came last calendar week when he lost out on being the American flag-bearer for Opening Ceremony. Athletes vote for the honor, with each winter sports commission getting i vote. Davis finished tied, 4-4, with luger Erin Hamlin. Per the written rules a coin flip determined the winner. Hamlin won.
Davis took to Twitter to merits Team The states "dishonorably tossed a coin" and remind everyone it was Black History Month. A number of U.S. athletes found the complaint unwarranted and a slight that took the focus off Hamlin, who had nothing to do with any of it. Then Davis skipped the Opening Ceremony and has all the same to speak publicly to American media nearly the issue.
He did talk to a Dutch newspaper Nederlandse, and stated: "It happened for the meliorate, I probably needed the rest anyway. But, you know, one time every four years, my 5th Olympics, I thought information technology would be really special to hold the flag. I estimate the USOC and the other people thought differently."
Over again, it'due south an athlete vote and the USOC did nothing but follow the pre-prepare guidelines of a money flip – which may not be the all-time solution but wasn't some dominion designed to finish Shani Davis.
When asked if he wanted to at least clarify he wasn't trying to say Hamlin was an undeserving flag bearer, Davis cited the rules of the interview.
"Before we started this interview we were sticking to skating-only questions and I'd like to continue to focus on skating-only questions," Davis said.
When asked if this latest flare-up impacted his skating, he almost laughed it off.
"Well, I've been through a lot worse than what's been going [on] the concluding few weeks and so this didn't disturb me whatsoever," Davis said.
When he was later asked if he would explain why he wouldn't address the issue, he left.
Davis has never really cared about this stuff – playing overnice for the media, playing nice with other athletes, playing nice for the USOC. Here in Olympics No. 5, he'south still the aforementioned guy he'due south always been, incredibly talented and unconcerned most the ramifications of speaking his mind.
He could have pretended to be something else through the years, rehearsed a bunch of lines and sought every endorsement dollar he could become. It'due south a well-worn Olympic playbook. His story is inspirational. His achievement without question.
Davis wouldn't practise it. Not and then. Not now. He could have just laid off Twitter here and privately expressed his thwarting in not existence flag-bearer. That isn't him, though.
It doesn't make some of his controversy any more than sensible. It doesn't make his decisions to say a lot and then not speak at all whatsoever better.
Withal, you have to respect the consistency.
Maybe information technology'due south the simply manner he could ascension to the acme. Perhaps it's the external fights that power the internal focus needed in this grueling sport. Information technology's not like whatsoever of these issues are horrible, unforgivable acts. Yet that's part of the frustration. Why the drama over issues that feel so small next to an athlete who has otherwise stood so tall? Who the heck cares about 2006 team pursuit?
Davis has one more skate, the ane,000, his best race, next week. It's probable his Olympic swan vocal, and if he hadn't tweeted, information technology would've been greeted with great fanfare, the champion going out with all he'south got. Instead, his interviews have strict regulations.
Regardless, he hopes the ane,500 "shook off the cobwebs." He was strongest early on in the race. Perhaps he tin can muster ane more great Olympic performance at the shorter distance and remind anybody of merely how great he is.
"Water ice was super fast, unfortunately I wasn't," Davis said. "… I've got 10 days to figure out how to get on the podium in the 1000."
If figuring that out is a skating-but question, the swell Shani Davis might exist able to do just it.
More from Yahoo Sports: • Photos: Olympic athlete couples at the PyeongChang Games • Lookout man: American luger Sweeney suffers ugly crash during final run • Shirtless flag-bearer unsure of family unit's prophylactic after whirlwind hits Tonga • Wetzel: Rippon, Zhou are allegorical of melting pot U.S. effigy skating squad • America has really come around on snowboarding, and hither's the proof
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