Chen, Shibutanis Pen Children’s Books With Emphasis On AAPI Representation
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Athlete Bio#
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Height
6'0"
Age
34
Hometown
Ann Arbor, MI
Education
Huron High School (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Quick Facts
- Speciality: Ice Dance
- Son of Chris Shibutani and Naomi Uyemura
- Has one sister, Maia, with whom he skates
- Began skating at age seven
- Enjoys photography, following Boston sports teams, and hanging out with friends.
- Co-written four children books with his sister, Maia
Biographical Information
Alex Shibutani began figure skating at age seven, following his younger sister Maia, giving up his dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. In 2004, he teamed up with his sister to form the "ShibSibs," an ice dancing team that would win medals at the U.S. Championships at every level (juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, senior) for the next decade plus.
When Alex just turned 20 and Maia was 16, they became world bronze medalists in their senior debut season, making them the youngest medalists at the event in nearly 50 years. Alex made his Olympic debut at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 with his sister, where they finished ninth as a wardrobe malfunction in the free dance led to a Level 2 deduction. They bounced back to become back-to-back world medalists before winning two bronze medals at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, making them the first athletes of Asian descent and the first non-white team to win an Olympic ice dance medal.
After the Olympics, the "Shibsibs" took a break from competition and extended it when Maia was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2019, requiring surgery to remove a malignant tumor. With Maia fully recovered from cancer, they announced their return to competitive ice dancing in May 2025. During their time away from competition, Alex and his sister, Maia, wrote four children's books and were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2023. Alex also did work as a professional photographer covering events from the Emmys to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Olympic Experience
- 2-time Olympian; 2-time Olympic medalist (2 bronze)
- Olympic Games Pyeongchang 2018, bronze (Ice Dance - Mixed, Team - Mixed)
- Olympic Games Sochi 2014, 9th (Ice Dance - Mixed)
World Championships Experience
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