10/16/2026
This weeks Hometown Hero, Grand Marshal is Ryan Shimabukuro.
Ryan became intrigued with speedskating at age six after watching Eric Heiden win five individual gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Five years later, he stepped onto the ice for the first time at the Ice Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii. In January 1989, at age fifteen, Ryan moved to the mainland to pursue his Olympic dream of becoming the first Hawaii resident to compete at the Winter Olympic Games.
Ryan competed in three U.S. Olympic Trials in 1992, 1994, and 1998. Although he fell short of earning a spot on the Olympic Team as an athlete, his passion for the sport led him to coaching. In the summer of 1998, he joined US Speedskating as the Midwest Regional Development and Junior National Team Coach.
Following the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Ryan was promoted to National Long Track Sprint Coach and moved to Utah in June 2002. His coaching career has taken him to six consecutive Winter Olympic Games in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. He has served as Head Coach for five U.S. Olympic Teams and contributed to U.S. Speedskating’s Olympic success, helping the team earn seven Olympic medals: three gold, two silver, and two bronze.
Ryan and his wife, Hideko, have called Layton home since 2006. Their children, Taylor Wray and Faith Wray, graduated from Northridge High School in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
From a young boy inspired by an Olympic champion to a coach who has helped athletes achieve success on the world’s biggest stage, Ryan’s journey is a testament to perseverance, dedication, and a lifelong passion for speedskating. Layton City is proud to recognize Ryan as a Hometown Hero and Grand Marshal.
