Shani Davis leads US speedskating team for World Cup circuit

Four-time Olympic medalist Shani Davis leads an experienced US speedskating team that will compete on the World Cup circuit leading up to the 2018 Winter Games.

The 15-member squad was selected after a four-day qualifying meet last week at the Utah Olympic Oval. Over four World Cup meets, beginning Nov. 10 in Heerenveen, Netherlands, the team’s performance will determine how many spots the US gets for each event at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Davis is attempting to make his fifth Olympic team at age 35. He won back-to-back gold medals in the 1,000 meters at Turin and Vancouver, while claiming silver in the 1,500 at those two games.

Also picked for the men’s squad were two-time Olympians Brian Hansen and Mitch Whitmore, along with 2014 team members Jonathan Garcia, Emery Lehman and Joey Mantia.

Two-time Olympian Heather (Richardson) Bergsma heads the women’s side, which includes Brittany Bowe, Kelly Gunther and Sugar Todd from the team that competed in Sochi.

Jeffrey Swider-Peltz Jr., son of four-time Olympic team member Nancy Swider-Peltz and brother of 2010 Olympian Nancy Swider Peltz Jr., rounds out the men’s team. The remaining female members are Petra Acker, Mia Manganello, Carlijn Schoutens and Paige Schwartzburg, all attempting to make the Olympics for the first time.

The US team for Pyeongchang will be determined at trials held in early January at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee.