The Japanese American brother and sister team of Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani have won their first U.S. Figure Skating Championship, reports Golden Skate.
The two edged out defending champs Madison Chock and Evan Bates in the ice dancing competition in St. Paul, Minnesota Saturday.
The Shibs, as they are affectionately called, performed to Coldplay to earn 115.47 for their final routine, plus a standing ovation from the adoring crowd. Their total score of 190.14 won them the gold by a margin of three points.
“In the periphery, you hear people that doubt your abilities and what our potential was as brother and sister,” the 24-year-old Alex Shibutani said. “What we have is very special. We have never really doubted what our potential was and I think that is what has gotten us to this point. We are confident that there is so much more we can accomplish on the ice and that’s what we are really looking forward to doing.”
You can read more comments from the Shibs, along with second place finisher Madison Chock who is Hawaiian Chinese in the Golden Skate.
