After helping to bring home a bronze medal for the US figure skating team in PyeongChang, Boston-born Olympic figure skater Alex Shibutani reflected on his experience as an Asian American figure skater and encouraged others not to give up on the sport, even when they don’t “look like anyone else.”
Shibutani, who was born at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is competing in his second Olympics, skates as a team with his sister, Maia, who also competed with the third-place US team in PyeongChang.
The duo compete in the ice dancing event together.
“When we started skating together, @MaiaShibutani and I didn’t see any teams on the ice that looked like us. There weren’t too many sibling teams either,” Shibutani said in a series of tweets Monday evening on the East Coast.
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“Being so ‘different’ could have been a warning sign... but we were 9 and 12 years old and didn’t see ourselves as ‘different’. We were just having a blast skating together,” he continued.
He encouraged those going through what he faced to “keep moving forward” and never let someone convince “you that you can’t do something or that your success will be limited because of how you look.”
“You don’t have to look like anyone else. You don’t have to be, or skate like anyone else. You don’t have to fit the mold or follow the path that everyone else is on,” he tweeted. “Just find, and be yourself.”
Last night was a dream that became a reality. @MaiaShibutani and I have worked so hard for this! Proud to be the first ice dance team of Asian descent to win a medal at the @olympics. (THREAD) pic.twitter.com/XPcjE3sX18
— Alex Shibutani (@AlexShibutani) February 13, 2018
When we started skating together, @MaiaShibutani and I didn’t see any teams on the ice that looked like us. There weren’t too many sibling teams either.
— Alex Shibutani (@AlexShibutani) February 13, 2018
Being so “different” could have been a warning sign... but we were 9 and 12 years old and didn’t see ourselves as “different”. We were just having a blast skating together.
— Alex Shibutani (@AlexShibutani) February 13, 2018
Throughout our career (14 years and counting), @MaiaShibutani and I have had to, and will continue to push past stereotypes, labels, doubters, and cynics.
— Alex Shibutani (@AlexShibutani) February 13, 2018
We have become successful BECAUSE we are siblings and family. Not in spite of that fact. We have challenged ourselves to grow, innovate, and embrace what makes us different from other teams BECAUSE our differences are what make us unique.
— Alex Shibutani (@AlexShibutani) February 13, 2018
When someone tells you that you can’t do something or that your success will be limited because of how you look, or who you are, keep moving forward. Set yourself apart by finding a way to utilize your strengths. Never stop believing in yourself.
— Alex Shibutani (@AlexShibutani) February 13, 2018
Believe in your dreams and surround yourself with people who nurture and believe in your dreams as much as you do. Sometimes the journey can be lonely, but fortunately, @MaiaShibutani and I have always had each other.
— Alex Shibutani (@AlexShibutani) February 13, 2018
You don’t have to look like anyone else. You don’t have to be, or skate like anyone else. You don’t have to fit the mold or follow the path that everyone else is on.
— Alex Shibutani (@AlexShibutani) February 13, 2018
Just find, and be yourself.
Felicia Gans can be reached at felicia.gans@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @FeliciaGans.