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PHOTOS: Shani Davis Wins 1500M Gold and World Cup Title

A brilliant weekend for Olympic gold medalist speedskater Shani Davis, who skated into history at the World Cup in The Netherlands. The Chicago speedskating hotness won gold in Saturday's 1500-meter final, posting a time of 1:45.92 and clinching the overall 1500m World Cup season title.

And there's more:

It was the 45th World Cup race win of Davis' career, leaving him one behind Dan Jansen's U.S. record 46. Davis won the season title even though he competed in only five of the six World Cup races at the distance. [Davis] is the first man to win four season titles in the 1,500 since the World Cup began in 1985.

Davis ended a 15-race winning streak at the World Cup in December 2010.

At the 2006 Turin Winter Games, Shani Davis made history as the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games. The 28-year-old Chicagoan won the 1000m gold at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics, as well as 1500M silver at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics.

Bravo.

VIDEO: German Figure Skating Hotness Robin Szolkowy Wins Gold

 

After a two-year wait for another gold medal, German figure skaters Robin Szolkowy and Aliona Savchenko won the pairs title at the European Championships in Bern, Switzerland. This is the duo's third gold medal.

The Olympic bronze medalists scored a total of 206.20 points after a free skate routine to the "Pink Panther" theme. "Savchenko and Szolkowy swept the world and European titles in 2008 and '09 but went through the Olympic season without taking gold at a major championship," adds the Shanghai Daily.

Watch the EuroSport clips (en Deutsche) AFTER THE JUMP ...

PHOTO: Shani Davis Wins at Opening of US Speedskating Races

An brilliant high-speed image captured by the Salt Lake Tribune as Shani Davis dominates the first men's race of the U.S. Speedskating Championships in Utah. The four-time Olympic medalist and eight-time world champion claimed the men’s 5,000 meters in 6:25.03. Davis also won the 500-meter race.

A strong comeback after two weeks ago in Japan, when the Olympic hotness lost the 1,000 meters after a 15-race winning streak at the World Cup. Bravo.

Shani Davis Wins Second Straight World Cup Race in Berlin

Olympic gold medalist speedskater Shani Davis continues his strong start to the season and struck double gold on the final day of the latest World Cup speed skating event.

Davis won the 1000 meters at Sunday's race at Berlin, his 11th straight World Cup 1000M victory. And after winning 1000M gold, Davis helped the USA win Sunday's team pursuit race. Davis has not lost a 1,000-meter World Cup race since Jan. 25, 2009 in Russia after cut his leg with his blade.

At the 2006 Turin Winter Games, Shani Davis speedskated to history as the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games. The 28-year-old Chicagoan won the 1000m gold at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics and the 1500M silver at the 2010 Olympics.

Shani Davis Wins 1500M and 1000M Speedskating Races at World Cup

Olympic gold medalist speedskater Shani Davis opened the World Cup season Friday with two World Cup gold medals. Davis won the 1,000 meters at Heerenveen, the Netherlands in 1 minute, 8.40 seconds. Davis' time was .11 faster than runner-up Stefan Groothuis of the Netherlands. Davis then won the 1,500 meters race in 1 minute, 45.04 seconds, some :44 faster than rival Simon Kuipers

Davis holds the world record at the distance and has won the World Cup season title at 1,000 the past four years. The 28-year-old Chicagoan won the 1,000 at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics and the 1,500 silver in the 2010 Olympics. At the 2006 Turin Winter Games, Shani Davis speedskated to history as the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games.

WATCH: Shani Davis Takes 6th World Cup Win in 1000M

Olympic gold medalist collected his sixth 1,000-meter World Cup victory of the season in Erfurt, Germany, winning his last race on Sunday in 1 minute, 9.25 seconds. The victory comes one day after he clinched his third straight overall World Cup title.

This was Davis's sixth 1,000m victory in six races. Stefan Groothuis of Netherlands was second and his compatriot Mark Tuiter—who won 1,500m gold in Vancouver where Shani placed second—took third place. Watch the video (en Deutsch!) WHEN YOU JUMP ...

WATCH: Shani Davis Becomes 1st Repeat 1000M Olympic Champion

At the 2006 Turin Winter Games, Shani Davis speedskated to history as the men’s 1,000-meter Olympic champion and the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Games. Last night in Vancouver, Davis became the first man to successfully defend his title in that event. "Davis held an American flag to his chest, a gesture rich in symbolism," noted the New York Times.

Shortly after his win, Davis took to Twitter to crystallize his emotions. Says the Olympic gold medalist: "I went as fast as I could. The pressure was on...and 2nite I made a diamond! Thank U everyone 4 supporting my effort."

A few more images of the flower ceremony and watch video of Shani's incredible victory—and the huge reaction by the crowd—WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Shani Davis Wins 1000M Gold

Shani Davis wins his second straight gold medal in the men’s 1,000-meter Olympic speedskating at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Davis is the world champion in that event and defended the title he won four years ago in Turin, when he became the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Games.

Mo Tae-bum of South Korea took the silver Wednesday, 18-hundredths of a second behind Davis' winning time of 1:08.94. Chad Hedrick of Team USA won the bronze in 1:09.32.

Congrats to Shani.  On to the 1500m ...

PHOTOS: French Pairs Skaters Yannick Bonheur and Vanessa James Create Olympic History

Last night, history was made in Vancouver. French pairs skaters Yannick Bonheur and Vanessa James became the first black couple to compete in figure skating at the Olympic Games.

From 2002 through 2007, Yannick competed with Marylin Pla. They were the three time French national championships and placed 14th at the 2006 Winter Olympics. The Toronto-born James previously competed internationally for Britain as a single's skater. She was the 2006 British national champion and 2007 silver medalist.

Bonheur and James won the French nationals last December, booking their ticket to Vancouver and enabling James to receive French citizenship. The 27-year-old Bonheur tells Agence France Presse, "It's destiny and I'm very happy about it. There's the grace and beauty of Vanessa and then my athleticism. And the fact that we're both black brings a pleasing visual harmony."

Bonheur and Davis were 15th after the short program and scored 51.16. A few more photos AFTER THE JUMP ...

Shani Davis Shatters Record, Wins World Cup 1000M in Berlin

Olympic speedskater Shani Davis, the Chicagoan who rocketed to Olympic gold and silver in 2006, shatters the course record in winning the 1,000-meter race at the season-opening World Cup in Berlin. Davis won gold as he clocked 1 minute 8.53 seconds for an overwhelming win over Yevgeny Lalenkov of Russia' s 1:09.11.

You might recall that last season, Davis injured himself with his blade in this same event.

In 2006, Davis became the first black American to win an individual medal in the winter Olympic games.