“I better live for today, because tomorrow's not promised.”
In a way, he remains the starry eyed kid who watched Eric Heiden beat the world at a strange sport in a glorious golden suit, setting the course for a quixotic journey that took Shimabukuro from the surf and sun of his native Hawaii to where he truly felt at home.But things have definitely changed for the coach of the U.S. speedskating team since he felt a piercing, terrifying pain in his chest a few summers ago.
A friend in the group, who'd had a heart attack himself, suggested he go into town to get checked before the long drive home. While Shimabukuro concedes he could stand to lose a few pounds, the heart attack was essentially caused by the all-consuming way he went about his job. He gave more responsibility to the athletes to keep up with their workouts and rehabs. He also asked them not to call at all hours unless it was a real emergency. If it could wait until morning, let's talk then.
Shimabukuro coaches a team that includes three skaters — Jackson, Mantia and Brittany Bowe — from Ocala, Florida, where the climate isn't much different from his own home state. Shimabukuro has been hooked on the sport ever since he watched Heiden sweep all five men's events at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, an unprecedented feat unlikely to be repeated.While his friends in Hawaii went surfing, Shimabukuro longed for the ice. At 15, he left home to pursue his speedskating dreams at a short track program in northern Michigan. He never went back.
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