Shibutani Siblings Address Practice Incident
Ice dancers Alex and Maia Shibutani have made it clear that they harbor no resentment towards each other after a video surfaced showing Alex hitting his sister during a practice session.
In the footage released last month, Alex is heard unleashing a stream of expletives directed at Maia.
The pair is set to compete this weekend at the NHK Trophy in Osaka, which is the fourth event in the ISU Grand Prix series. Maia placed sixth in the rhythm dance on Friday.
Reflecting on the incident, Alex expressed remorse, stating, “I feel terrible.” He acknowledged having a meltdown during practice, admitting it shouldn’t have occurred, and shared that he apologized to Maia immediately afterwards.
The Shibutanis, who earned a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, are aiming for a return to the competition after a seven-year hiatus, with hopes of making the U.S. team for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Games.
“We’re both aware of the intensity and high standards we’re aiming for,” Alex said. “Yes, it was a mistake. I’m committed to being a better teammate. I feel incredibly fortunate to be skating with Maia; our relationship is unique and special.”
Maia also addressed the leaked video, commenting, “When you’re pushing to be the best, intense moments are likely to happen. We understand each other and the challenges we face, and we tackle them together as siblings.” She noted that they continued to practice that day, encouraging one another.
At 34 and 31, respectively, Alex and Maia have spent most of their lives skating together, establishing themselves as leading ice dancers in the U.S.
They’re three-time World Championship medalists and have participated as Olympians twice, including being part of the U.S. team that finished ninth at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and claimed bronze in 2018 at PyeongChang.
After their run in PyeongChang, the Shibutanis shifted their focus away from competitive skating to prioritize their education and explore other interests. Their break from elite-level competition was extended in 2019 when Maia was diagnosed with a malignant kidney tumor. Following surgery and treatment, her recovery was challenging but ultimately successful.
