American skaters the Shibutanis inducted into US Figure Skating Hall of Fame
By Bryan Ke
Olympic bronze medalists Alex and Maia Shibutani, also known as the Shibutanis, were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame over the weekend.
Celebrating the recent achievement, Maia Shibutani, 28, took to Twitter on Monday after being inducted into the Hall of Fame during the 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center in San Jose, California, on Saturday.
“We have long admired the elite group of athletes and contributors to figure skating who are in the Hall of Fame,” she wrote in a series of tweets. “To join their ranks is surreal and humbling. Thank you, @USFigureSkating for this honor!”
On Dec. 1, 2022, Richard Dalley, chair of the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, announced that the Shibutanis were selected to be part of the U.S. Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
Maia and Alex have been exemplary athletes. In addition to their many medals – including two Olympic bronze medals – they have earned numerous honors and awards of off-ice distinction which include being named Sports Envoys with the U.S. Department of State, focusing on respect for diversity and the Olympic ideals.
Dancing to “Paradise” by Coldplay, the Shibutanis earned Team USA a bronze medal in the ice dance event at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. They notably made history as the first ice dancers of Asian descent to win a medal at the Olympics.
Paul E. George, the former director of the U.S. Figure Skating Association who later served as the president and trustee of the U.S. Figure Skating Foundation, was also inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
“Spending the weekend with our fellow Class of 2023 inductee, Paul E. George, was incredible,” Maia tweeted on Monday. “Sharing this experience with our amazing parents, Paul, and his family is something we will always remember.”
According to the younger Shibutani, Alex, 31, also became the “first Asian American man to be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.”
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