MAIA & ALEX SHIBUTANI
Two-time Olympic Medalists
YEAR INDUCTED
2024
CATEGORY
Sports,
Literature
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani are the first sibling duo from the United States and first team of color to win medals in Ice Dance at the Olympics. The two-time Olympians and three-time World medalists earned medals at each of their 14 U.S. Championships. The Shibutanis are authors, producers, U.S. Department of State Sports Envoys, and leading advocates for the AAPI community. In 2023, they were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
HALL OF FAME ESSAY
Alex and I are so honored to enter the Asian Hall of Fame and join this group of individuals who have made such meaningful contributions in the world.
As we reflect on our journey so far, we're very grateful to all of the individuals who have made such a positive impact on our lives. We are who we are thanks to our parents – so many of our qualities are gifts from them. We're grateful for their sacrifice and their love and their commitment to us. They taught us to take care of each other, and Alex and I continue to grow thanks to the support of our mentors and friends who believe in us and who share their time and experiences with us on the ice.
We are very proud to have expanded what is possible in our sport. We've made history at every level, and from our earliest competitions at the ages of 9 and 12, all the way up to the Olympic Games, we've worked hard and dedicated ourselves, aiming to be the very best versions of ourselves.
We've also embraced the opportunity and the responsibility of representing and inspiring others off the ice. We are intentional and passionate about our work in sports education, literature, diplomacy, entertainment, and the arts, whether it's sharing our skills with athletes around the world or writing children's books for the next generation, we really love what we do. We still have big dreams even, and we are committed to using our platform to bring people together and to encourage young people to follow their dreams while advocating for openness and respect.
Thank you once again for this honor. Let's continue to work together to break barriers and build a future where we all have the opportunity to shine.
Alex and Maia Shibutani, Induction 2024
“Something that’s changed a lot with our process and our skating is that we realized that we’re unique – and we embraced it. And we’ve been pushing ourselves, harder than ever, to become the best version of ourselves.”
– MAIA SHIBUTANI
