Different passion fuels Shib Sibs

GANGNEUNG, South Korea – Maia and Alex Shibutani overcame more than just a field packed with world class opponents to become the United States’ first double medalwinners of these Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

The ice dance pairing secured a bronze medal with an electrifying performance despite what their coach Marina Zoueva described as the inherent disadvantage of being brother and sister.

The Shib Sibs were in fourth place heading into the free dance but capitalized on a patchy display from fellow Americans Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue to capture another third-place to add to their team event bronze.

“Yes,” Zoueva said when asked if the Shibutanis had a tougher time impressing the judges than their rivals. “Because traditional ice dance is of course a romantic thing. A big part of the performance is romantic. We actually broke the wall and opened a window for anyone to be on the podium and have success in ice dance. Even if you are brother and sister.”

Obviously, the Shibutanis can’t really do the romantic thing, but their programs are filled with technical elements and slick choreography that is mesmerizing to watch. There is none of the romance that is infused into the acts of the likes of gold medal winners Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, but plenty of athletic drama makes up for it.

“They perform passion, but not passion to be like love passion,” Zoueva added. “(It is) passion between them is how they want to reach their goal. To be in the Olympics, to get an Olympic medal and you can see it. You can see it in choreography it is not necessary to have love passion. Any passion is passion.”

Four years ago in Sochi, the Shibutanis finished in ninth but came back with a burning hunger to force themselves into the discipline’s elite circles.

“No one expected this of us but we have always dreamed this was possible and knew we had it in us,” Alex Shibutani said.

Added Maia, “We believed in each other.”