The Shibutanis do get sick of each other sometimes
Alex and Maia Shibutani are back in the United States after winning two bronze medals. After getting some laundry done, they took the time to talk to For the Win.
What was your first thought after you knew you won the bronze medal in the individual event?
Maia: The most memorable moment from the Olympic Games, even before we realized we had the bronze medal. It was when we finished our free dance in the individual event, just knowing that we had given it our absolute everything. Then once we knew that we had the bronze medal, I guess I was just really proud and grateful to all the people who have been helping us throughout our career. It was quite the moment to start off our Olympic Games by getting the medal with our teammates, but then to also bring back a second medal for Team USA in the individual, it was just a really successful Games for us. To know that was backed up by four strong performances, it was really just the dream scenario for us.
From nationals, to the team event, to the individual event, you kept hitting your best program again and again, peaking at the right time.
Alex: We were confident that we were capable of continuing to up our game. We know that over the course of the season, regardless of the program, we love this program so much, that we improve over the course of the year. I don't think that's the case for everyone. I think that sometimes, you see skaters, individuals or teams, peak early in the season. As things stagnate, we're so inspired by it being an Olympic season and knowing what we're capable of. We knew going into this season, we wanted to win two medals at the Olympics. It wasn't something we really talked about. We focus on the work and focus on our performances. Especially after team event, getting another really good competition under our belts, in that arena, going into the individual event, we were really confident.
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Have you figured out where you're going to keep your medals?
A: Somewhere safe! It's been funny. One of the unexpected results of having two medals is that when we're wearing them both at the same time, they make some noise. I've already got a couple of nicks in one of mine. At least away from the other medal! It's to be expected that over the course of the next few months, people are really going to want to see it. I think that's one of the great things about having an Olympic medal. You have the opportunity to not only inspire people with your performances but there's something to be said for being able to see an Olympic medal, and being able to hold one, and we want to be able to share that with people.
We get to see the best of your relationship on the ice, but do you ever get sick of each other?
M: We've always had a strong relationship when we were kids. As we've been working so hard towards being an elite team, like with any close relationship or partnership, of course there are disagreements, but the thing that has kept us together, is the fact that we know that we do have to work together to share that common goal. But if anything, it could just be with the stress of the Olympic games, the stress is trying to do your best.
A. The direct answer to your question is yeah. We definitely need our time apart. We don't live together, but we spend more time together throughout the day, the week, than any other team because of our process and the way we've committed ourselves to being the best we can be. We're able to do that because we do genuinely get along. It is obviously the case, though, when you're trying to work on things, we expect a lot of each other. We know what we're capable of. Our communication is so refined we're to the point where we do't really have to beat around the bush, we just say what we need to say. We know we have the backdrop of trust and the relationship that we have. It's all about the work.
AFP PHOTO / Dimitar DILKOFFDIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images
Between YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, you're both very comfortable with sharing your lives on social media. What makes it so easy for you?
A: We grew up with the rise of social media. But lots of people have grown up with it and I don't think that makes them comfortable with being open or speaking their mind or telling their story. We really like skating because it combines a lot of our interests, whether it's story telling, whether it's the work we do with our music and choreography. I have so much respect for athletes who are focused so much on trying to get a faster time. That takes a lot of discipline, and what we do takes a lot of discipline, too, but I'm grateful we're able to experience different things and challenge ourselves in different ways where there's always something new to learn.
We do have a creative process with our sport, but at a certain point it gets into a more controlled state, where it becomes more about muscle memory and repetition, and that's where the real athletic training happens. To stay creative and keep that creative muscle working, we like to do social media. Because we've been skating together for such long time, we're fortunate to have a lot of people in our corner. With fans, and being able to share our experiences with the people who are interested and also realizing social media connects you to people all over the world. During a moment like the Olympics, it's an opportunity to share more about yourself and share things you're passionate about, whether it's the Olympics or tweeting about filmmaking or basketball.
I assume you're a Celtics fan?
A: Yeah, I'm a huge Celtics fans. We grew up in New England. I support all the Boston sports teams. Basketball continues to be my favorite American team sport. I have an innate ability to keep a lot of statistics and factoid and information about basketball in my head, when maybe I should have been focusing more on my history homework when I was middle school.
What was your favorite piece of Olympic swag?
M: We were really lucky because Team USA is outfitted by Ralph Lauren and Nike, and I think that both companies did such a fantastic job. For me, the thing that I love the most was the opening ceremony jacket from Ralph Lauren. It was cold in Korea. So that was my go-to jacket every day.
A: Yeah to have a piece like the jacket that was then able to be utilized by the athletes, on the day to day because the temperatures were lower and it was very cold.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
You and L eslie Jones had some fun interactions. Did you get a chance to catch up with her?
A: Leslie has become a fixture among athletes since the Rio Games. The reason why athletes and non-athletes alike appreciate her during the Games is because she is able to accurately voice the awe and amazement people feel but don't express verbally when they're watching a sport they've maybe never seen before. The patriotism and the pride she shows in cheering on Team USA athletes is something that Olympic athletes really do appreciate because we don't get the same attention.
There isn't the same awareness of our sports or what we do as pro athletes like football players or basketball players. I know that the Olympic athletes we talk to really appreciate it, and even skaters from other countries. We didn't get the chance to meet her because she flew back to the states before the closing ceremony and our schedule was pretty busy. I think we'll be able to meet up with her at some point.
You two were the first Asian-Americans to medal in ice dancing. If you could give advice to other sports to help with diversity, what would you say?
A: I don't know if the issue is the sports themselves being receptive or open. The winter sports, there is a natural barrier to entry based on geographic location, and where you live. Not every person around the world has access to a mountain, or long track speed skating rink. For us, there is a great tradition of Asians and Asian-American figure skaters, but growing up we didn't have role models who were at the top of the ice dance world. We're only the second brother and sister team to win a medal after the Duchesnays.
We always knew it was possible because they had done it, but from the Asian perspective, back in 2011, we were the first team to win a medal at the world championships, let alone come in the top ten at the world championships as an ice dance team of Asian descent. I don't know enough about other sports to speak of ways that it can be more inclusive but I think the thing we can do in our career is continue to be successful and inspire people. I got some responses on Twitter about that, where people were saying how much of a role we were playing inspiring the next generation.
It's not so much about our ethnicity or our race, we're not solely focused on inspiring the next generation of Asian or Asian-American ice dancers. The thing about the Olympics is you have the opportunity to inspire to people of all backgrounds with the thought that we're all equal. While we come from different places, we should have the same opportunities.
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
What's next for you? Are you planning on competing at the world championships in mid-March?
M: We'll make a decision in the next few days with worlds. It's been very exciting to see the amount of enthusiasm and excitement based on the Olympic success. It will really just depend on the timing and the opportunities we have.
Are you thinking about 2022 yet?
A: Only because everyone's been asking us! It was one of the first or second questions we got in the mixed zone after winning an Olympic medal. We were asked in 2014, and we said, "We don't know what the future holds!" and that somehow turned into the headline that the Shibutanis may retire. I understand that's the nature of the beast. We're still young. Maia is 23. I'm 26. We've improved so much over the course of the past four years, and we've matured both on and off the ice. There was no way for us to know in 2014, when we finished in ninth, that we'd grow so much as individuals and as a team. It's really hard to say what the future holds but I know that over four years, there's so much that could happen.
Can you sum up the Olympics in one word?
M: Incredible
A: Gratifying? I don't know if the gratifying is the right word. No, I feel grateful for the opportunity for the experience, and the way the experience continues.
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