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Davis stays out of Olympic team pursuit

TURIN, Italy, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Long-track speed skater Shani Davis plans to stay out of the team pursuit relay, probably dashing U.S. hopes for a gold medal in the event.

That could also end teammate Chad Hedrick's hopes of winning five gold medals and tying Eric Heiden's record performance in 1980, USA Today reports.

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Davis could be the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics when he competes in Turin. His coach, Bob Fenn, said that the team relays conflict with Davis's "main goal," the 1,000-meter speed skating event.

"I don't see what his logic is," Hedrick said. "We can't be beat if he skates. It's his decision. I'm not going to get in the middle of it. I would like him to be in the pursuit, but am I going to beg him? No."

The current world record holder at 1,000 meters, Davis is also competing at 1,500 and 5,000 meters. He held the world record at 1,500 meters until Hedrick surpassed him in December.

Davis was on the Olympic team in 2002 as a short-track skater. This year, he failed to make the team in short-track while doing so well in long-track World Cup competitions that he was exempt from the Olympic trials.

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