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Maia ShibutaniAmerican figure skater performing in ice dancing.
Date of Birth: 20.07.1994
Country:  USA |
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Maya Shibutani Biography
Maya Shibutani is an American figure skater who specializes in ice dance. She is best known for her partnership with her brother, Alex Shibutani. Together, they have achieved numerous accolades in their career.
Early Life
Maya Shibutani was born in New York in 1994 to a family of accomplished musicians. She spent her early years living in Colorado Springs from 2005 to 2007 before relocating to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Initially homeschooled, she later attended Clague Middle School and enrolled in Huron High School in the fall of 2008.
Career
Maya began her figure skating career at the age of four, initially as a singles skater. However, in 2004, she teamed up with her brother Alex to transition to ice dance. They made their international debut at the Junior Grand Prix in Courchevel, where they secured victory with an 11-point lead over their competitors. They placed second at the Grand Prix in Madrid, finishing behind the Russian pair Ekaterina Riazanova and Jonathan Guerreiro. Their performance earned them a spot in the Grand Prix Final, where they placed fourth.
In 2009, Maya and Alex won silver at the U.S. Junior Championships, narrowly missing the podium at the World Junior Championships. The following season, they claimed the U.S. Junior Championships title and won two Junior Grand Prix events, ultimately finishing in third place at the Grand Prix Final. At the 2010 World Junior Championships, they finished in fourth place.
Maya and Alex continued to excel, winning silver at the U.S. Championships and earning a spot on the Four Continents Championship and World Championship teams. They secured second place at their debut Four Continents Championship, only behind Olympic silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White. At their debut World Championship, they earned a bronze medal.
In the pre-Olympic season, Maya and Alex started by winning the Grand Prix at their home event in Chicago. They continued their success at the Cup of America in China, where they emerged victorious after a tough competition. This performance secured their spot in the Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France, where they finished second behind the home team but improved their previous score in the short dance. They became two-time national champions at the U.S. Championships in Kansas, narrowly defeating former champions. They also won silver at the Continental Championships in South Korea, improving their previous score in the free dance. Finally, they claimed a bronze medal at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, after an intense battle.
In the new Olympic season, the Shibutanis began their campaign by winning the Russian Grand Prix stage in a tough competition.
Ranking
As of December 12, 2016, Maya and Alex Shibutani held the second-place ranking in the International Skating Union's ice dance category.
