Too busy to watch the Winter Olympics? Here’s a recap of the United States’ success in Pyeongchang and the contributions made by University of Michigan athletes.
In the medal count, the United States came in 4th with 9 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze! Ahead of the US was Norway (1), Germany (2), and Canada (3). To see where other countries fell in comparison, check out the full medal count list.
From the United States Olympic team, a total of 15 athletes have ties to the state of Michigan, with 4 of those 15 graduating from the University of Michigan. These include 28 year old figure skater Evan Bates, 32 year old ice hockey player Chad Kolarik, and 23 and 26 year old siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani, who competed in pairs ice dancing.
Maia and Alex Shibutani have been skating since the age of 4 and 7, respectively. Prior to the Pyeongchang games, they medaled at the U.S. Championships for 13 straight years. The Shibutani siblings, commonly called the "Shib Sibs", are no stranger to the Olympics. As a pair, they placed 9th in the 2014 Sochi games. This year, they brought home a bronze medal from their individual ice dancing routine and helped Team USA to a bronze medal in the team figure skating event.
In skating and in life, Maia and Alex are perfectly in sync. They spend 4 to 6 hours a day training and still spend a majority of their time together off the ice. The pair also has their own YouTube Channel, called the ShibSibs. Check out what Maia and Alex have to share about the 3 best secrets of their teamwork.
The University of Michigan is honored to have so many Wolverines sporting red, white, and blue in Pyeongchang. Check out every 2018 Winter Olympian with Michigan connections to learn more about our incredible athletes and alumni.
Wherever you go, Go Blue!
Contributed by Erika Aldrich, Neighborhood Ambassador-North Campus