Maia Harumi Shibutani was born on 20th July 1994. She is an American ice dancer. With her brother Alex Shibutani, she is the 2011 World bronze medalist, 2011 Four Continents silver medalist, 2011 NHK Trophy champion, 2009 World Junior silver medalist, and a four-time U.S. national medalist. She was named to the 2014 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team.
Maia started skating when she was just four years old. She competed briefly as a singles skater before partnering with Alex in ice dance. Maia graduated from Huron High School in Ann Arbor, MI and is now an undergraduate at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 2011, Maia was one of ten scholar-athletes to be named to the US Figure Skating Scholastic Honors team. Maia was recently named a recipient of a Travel and Training Grant from the Women’s Sports Foundation, joining other members of the Class of 2012 including gymnast Gabby Douglas and the USA Women’s Boxing National Team.
Maia and Alex Shibutani are a sibling ice dance team. They are the 2011 World bronze medalists, the U.S. silver medalists in 2011 and 2012, and bronze medalists in 2013. They are coached by Marina Zoueva and Oleg Epstein, and train at the Arctic Edge Arena in Canton, Michigan.
Their competitive career started in 2005 with a silver medal in juvenile ice dance at the U.S. Junior Championships during their very first year competing in the sport. The following two seasons they captured back-to-back U.S. National titles competing at the next successive levels – Intermediate (2006) and Novice levels (2007). Their competitive career at the Junior level was highlighted by a silver medal at the 2009 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and a third U.S. National title, winning the gold medal at the Junior level in 2010.
As competitors at the senior level since the 2010-2011 season, Maia and Alex have been 3-time medalists at the U.S. Championships, and made a historic debut during their rookie season, becoming the first ice dance team to medal at both of their Grand Prix events and the first U.S. Ice Dance team to medal during their debut at the World Championships (2011).
Maia and Alex have always been engaged in many aspects of their sport, sharing their experiences as athletes and performers. Highlights from their written and video blogs, which have appeared on figure skating sites – including usfsa.org and icenetwork.com, as well as the official site of the U.S. Olympic Committee, usoc.org.
In August, 2012 Maia and Alex launched their official YouTube channel “ShibSibs” Productions. Their channel includes original videos which Maia and Alex have filmed, directed and edited – which have thus far garnered over 1,000,000 views. Their videos have included cameos by Olympians from the worlds of gymnastics and figure skating including: Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber, Danell Leyva, Jonathan Horton, Bart Conner, Mao Asada, Jeffrey Buttle, Johnny Weir, Takahiko Kozuka, and Brian Boitano.
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Maia Shibutani is world leading and highly accomplished Ice Dancer. She is the 2011 World bronze medalist, 2011 Four Continents silver medalist, 2011 NHK Trophy champion, 2009 World Junior silver medalist, and a four-time U.S. national medalist. in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
It was destiny that in March 2003, you and your family attended the World Ice Dancing Championships in Washington, D.C. that later led you in forming a formidable team with your brother, Alex, and then win the 2009 World Junior silver medal, 2011 World bronze medal, 2011 Four Continents silver medal, and the list is endless.
What factors do you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Maia Shibutani:
In order to achieve anything, I believe that most importantly, you have to totally love what you do. You also need to believe in yourself, and surround yourself with people who truly care about you. Even before we started skating together, Alex and I were very close. While we are very different people with very different personalities, we trust each other and know that our dreams can only be accomplished by working together. Even after our skating career is over, we will always be siblings and friends.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your workout regime?
Ms. Maia Shibutani:
I try to mix things up a bit since doing the same thing can get a little boring. Also, depending on the amount of skating we do on a particular day, I might not do as intense a cardio workout. Skating is already a great workout, but when I’m not skating, I like to do cardio on an elliptical. Core exercises, exercises for my upper body, and stretching are also important.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What diet do you take to remain healthy and physically fit? Kindly share with us your eating pattern?
Ms. Maia Shibutani:
Having a balanced diet is important for everyone, but as an athlete, I really try to make sure that I eat healthy foods that keep up my strength and stamina.
Since I do so much physical activity, I try to eat more frequently. For instance, I will eat an egg or cheese omelet for breakfast, and then throughout the morning, I might have some Greek yogurt with Kashi. I’ll also snack on applesauce, and drink plenty of water.
For lunch, I try and have a portion of protein. I love tuna on flatbread. After I finish skating, I’ll drink a protein drink or chocolate milk. For dinner, I make sure to have some protein with lots of vegetables, and some carbs. For carbs, I love roasted sweet potatoes.
Before I go to bed, I will have a glass of milk or some Greek yogurt. I really love food, so I don’t believe in denying yourself treats. I think it is ok to eat food that you really enjoy, but portion size is important.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the young ice dancing girls who want to make a career in the field of ice dancing ?
Ms. Maia Shibutani:
Again, it comes down to really loving what you do, and being confident in yourself. If a young girl wants to pursue ice dancing, she needs to realize that it is a very subjective sport. You have to believe in what you are doing and be ready to experience some hard times and adversity. It is a beautiful sport, but it requires you to not only be physically fit and strong, but to have a love for music and all types of dance.
Something to keep in mind is that women come in all different shapes and sizes, and particularly in subjective sports there can be a lot of emphasis on how girls look. It is important to be fit, but also recognize what is right for your particular body type. It might sound like common sense, but you only have one body, so you need to take care of it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have selected a sport which is a team sport and requires a lot of cohesiveness and absolute understanding between the dance partners to finally succeed. How do you achieve that?
Ms. Maia Shibutani:
When you work with anyone closely, communication is very important. Alex and I know each other very well, but we are still learning the balance between being honest and productive. It isn’t always easy, but we work the best, and we get the best results when we respect each other’s ideas and opinions.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have been named as a recipient of a Travel and Training Grant from the Women’s Sports Foundation. How much does this mean to you?
Ms. Maia Shibutani:
The Women’s Sports Foundation is truly incredible. Founded by Billie Jean King, the foundation’s goal is to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. To have received support from such an amazing community of women is extremely motivating. WSF, is now accepting 2014 applications for their Travel & Training Fund. You can go towww.WomensSportsFoundation.org/TravelandTraining to learn more and apply!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Your career has been greatly influenced by your ice dancing partner, Alex, your brother. How has this helped you in your growth and how has he made all the difference in your professional life?
Ms. Maia Shibutani:
Skating and sharing a dream with my brother has been incredibly special and rewarding. We have been so successful because we have had a lot of the same goals. Working together has taught me so many life lessons. Regardless of what happens in the future, I know that Alex and I will always have some very special memories that we are lucky to share.
Women Fitness Team thanks Maia Shibutani for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and shall also like to thank Lynn Plage from Lynn Plage Communications, LLC who made this interview happen.
To know more about Maia Shibutani check out at: http://maiaandalex.com
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.