Paucity of African-Americans in the Winter Olympics

Shani Davis – speedskating Olympian

Four years ago, during the February opening of the 2006 Winter Olympics Games in Torino, Italy; Brian Gumbel compared the Games to a GOP convention. In his own words:

Finally tonight, the Winter Games. Count me among those who don't like 'em and won't watch 'em. In fact, I figure when Thomas Paine said “these are the times that try men's souls,” he must have been talking about the start of another Winter Olympics. Because they're so trying, maybe over the next three weeks we should all try too.

Like try not to be incredulous when someone attempts to link these games to those of the ancient Greeks who never heard of skating or skiing. So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world's greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention.

Nothing has changed since Mr. Gumbel made his observation. The Olympic Games continues to look like a GOP convention. Despite the “paucity of African-Americans” in the Winter Olympics, Blacks have always made Olympic history when they were given a a chance to compete.

In 1904, the first great moment in Black Olympic history emerged when George Poage became the first Black American to compete and win a bronze-medal in the Summer Games. He finished third in the 400-meter hurdles at the III Olympiad in St. Louis.

A Chicago born African-American star, Shani Davis, 27 year-old; continues to dominate the Olympic and world championship games, however, relatively little is known of him by most African-American or white in the U.S. for that matter. Davis is instantly recognized as a celebrity when he visits a country that respects speedskating . Davis is a speed skater who competes in both short track and long track speed skating.

During the 2006 Winter Olympics, Davis became the first black athlete to win a gold medal in an individual Winter Games sport (1,000 m) and the fifth black Winter Olympics medalist. He won a gold and a silver medal during the Torino, Italy. Between 2004 through 2008, Davis has won a total of 10 gold- medals, 3 silver-medals and 3 bronze-medals in World Championship competitions.

Today, February 15, 2010; Davis dropped out of the men's 500-meter speedskating after one race so he can concentrate on Wednesday's 1,000-meter which is one of his best. He is the world's best in the 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter. He is the favorite for the gold-medal. Davis is managed and guided by a strong-will person, his mother Cherie who is also his manager.

Whether Davis wins or not, we at ChocolateCity.cc along with millions of Americans back home are very proud of his outstanding achievements and accomplishments on the world stage.

Update 02/17/10 7:50 CST