Forty-plus years after the Civil Rights Movement truly began to gain momentum, another racial barrier has fallen. It’s hard to believe that it has taken so long, but the Winter Olympics finally has an African-American individual champion.
Shani Davis claimed his spot in Olympic, American, and world history with his gold medal run of 1:08.89 in the 1000-meter long-track speed skating event last weekend in Torino, Italy. Davis’ name will be etched in the record books next to current U.S. Olympian Vonetta Flowers, who became the first African-American to win a Winter gold as a member of the U.S. women’s two-person bobsled team in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
“It’s a breakthrough,” Davis said at a press conference following his victory, “but it’s what people make of it.”
In eight years, the barriers that stood for an eternity have crumbled. African-Americans are showing, as they always have, that they can excel when given the opportunity.
Davis’ victory, however, is rousing debate for another reason: his attitude. This moment, which could mark another step toward diversification and equality in society, has been marred by Davis’ selfishness and discontent toward his American teammates.
The Chicago native opted to skip the team pursuit competition on Day 5 of the Games to rest for the 1000-meters, the event he currently holds the world record in, on Day 8. The U.S. team lost in the quarterfinals to Italy. Davis has also successfully developed quite a rivalry with teammate Chad Hedrick. The Texan won America’s first gold of the 2006 Games in the 1500-meter race and recently broke Davis’ world record in the event. His quest for a historic five gold medals was broken after the United States lost the team pursuit.
“If he feels it’s him against the rest of the world, then it’s him who pitted himself against the world,” American teammate Casey FitzRandolph told the Associated Press. Davis has further alienated himself by training alone and not regularly competing on the long-track speed skating World Cup circuit. This isolation has cost the 23-year-old marketing opportunities, but he blames his ethnicity.
Both parties may have valid points. Davis has persevered through the underground racism that still exists in a predominately white arena. He has also had to face countless racial slurs that often appear on his website.
“I’m one of a kind,” Davis said. “I’m a different type of person. I have a different charisma. A lot of people don’t understand me.”
Davis is right. People don’t understand him—they can’t. His experiences, his life and the challenges and hurdles he has overcome are his—but people can empathize, if only he would let them.
Davis claims he would like to become the Michael Jordan of speed skating. This is a lofty and difficult goal, especially considering he may not even be the best American. He faces competitors like Hedrick and Joey Cheek, both of whom have already won gold in the 2006 Olympics.
Jordan also made himself marketable. He did not attempt to hide from the world by not competing in his league—in Davis’ case the World Cup circuit—or train alone all year long. He also did not have his mom fighting his battles with U.S. Speed Skating.
His Airness also took over part of Nike after becoming basketball’s greatest champion—an accomplishment that didn’t occur until Jordan became a team player. Davis will have to do the same if he ever wants to “be like Mike.”
