12 Outstanding, History-Making Black Winter Olympians

01of 13History in the MakingBruce Bennett/Getty; Ezra Shaw/Getty; David Madison/GettyThe 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, begin on Feb. 3, which means that they coincide with Black History Month. Here, we’re celebrating the accomplishments of the trailblazing, outstanding Black athletes who have made history at the Winter Olympics over the years.

01of 13

History in the Making

Bruce Bennett/Getty; Ezra Shaw/Getty; David Madison/Getty

The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, begin on Feb. 3, which means that they coincide with Black History Month. Here, we’re celebrating the accomplishments of the trailblazing, outstanding Black athletes who have made history at the Winter Olympics over the years.

02of 13

Debi Thomas

David Madison/Getty

03of 13Vonetta FlowersClive Mason/GettyFlowers, representing Team USA in the two-women blobsleigh, won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics, which made herthe first Black athlete to win Winter Olympics gold. Pictured, she gets emotional while accepting her medal alongside teammate Jill Bakken.

03of 13

Vonetta Flowers

Clive Mason/Getty

Flowers, representing Team USA in the two-women blobsleigh, won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics, which made herthe first Black athlete to win Winter Olympics gold. Pictured, she gets emotional while accepting her medal alongside teammate Jill Bakken.

04of 13Jarome IginlaBruce Bennett/GettyIn 2002, Iginla, representing Team Canada, became the second Black athlete to win gold at the Winter Olympics, taking his home as part of Canada’s ice hockey team.

04of 13

Jarome Iginla

Bruce Bennett/Getty

In 2002, Iginla, representing Team Canada, became the second Black athlete to win gold at the Winter Olympics, taking his home as part of Canada’s ice hockey team.

05of 13Shani DavisCameron Spencer/GettyIn 2006, while competing at the Winter Olympics in Turin, U.S. speed skater Davis became the first Black athlete to win gold in an individual competition.

05of 13

Shani Davis

Cameron Spencer/Getty

In 2006, while competing at the Winter Olympics in Turin, U.S. speed skater Davis became the first Black athlete to win gold in an individual competition.

06of 13

Elana Meyers Taylor

David Ramos/Getty

In 2022, the Olympian made history again, winning silver in the first ever women’s monobob event.

07of 13

Lauryn Williams

Alexander Hassenstein/Getty

In 2014, she competed at the Sochi Olympics and won silver in the two-woman bobsled. Her teammate was none other than fellow trailblazer, Elana Meyers Taylor (left).

08of 13Erin JacksonRobert Cianflone/GettyJackson was thefirst Black woman to be on the U.S. long-track speed skating team, qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics after learning to speed skate just four months prior.Jackson, who is the world’s top-ranked woman in the 500m event for speed skating, came in 3rd place at the recent U.S. Olympic trials in Milwaukee, nearly missing the opportunity to go to Beijing. Her teammate, Brittany Bowe,gave up her qualifying spot to ensure Jackson could compete.While competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Jackson made history yet again when she became thefirst Black woman to win a solo medal in speed skatingafter coming out victorious in the 500m event.She is also the first U.S. woman to win gold in speed skating at the Olympics in nearly 30 years, after Bonnie Blair placed first in 1994.

08of 13

Erin Jackson

Robert Cianflone/Getty

Jackson was thefirst Black woman to be on the U.S. long-track speed skating team, qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics after learning to speed skate just four months prior.

Jackson, who is the world’s top-ranked woman in the 500m event for speed skating, came in 3rd place at the recent U.S. Olympic trials in Milwaukee, nearly missing the opportunity to go to Beijing. Her teammate, Brittany Bowe,gave up her qualifying spot to ensure Jackson could compete.

While competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Jackson made history yet again when she became thefirst Black woman to win a solo medal in speed skatingafter coming out victorious in the 500m event.

She is also the first U.S. woman to win gold in speed skating at the Olympics in nearly 30 years, after Bonnie Blair placed first in 1994.

09of 13

Jordan Greenway

Jean Catuffe/Getty

10of 13Simidele AdeagboClive Mason/GettyIn 2018, Adeagbo made history as a member of Nigeria’s first Winter Olympics team, and became the first Nigerian and African woman to compete in skeleton.

10of 13

Simidele Adeagbo

In 2018, Adeagbo made history as a member of Nigeria’s first Winter Olympics team, and became the first Nigerian and African woman to compete in skeleton.

11of 13Akwasi FrimpongTobias Hase/picture alliance via GettyIn 2018, Frimpong was Ghana’ssecond athlete to ever compete in the Winter Olympicsand the first to represent Ghana in skeleton.

11of 13

Akwasi Frimpong

Tobias Hase/picture alliance via Getty

In 2018, Frimpong was Ghana’ssecond athlete to ever compete in the Winter Olympicsand the first to represent Ghana in skeleton.

12of 13

Sabrina Simander

Ezra Shaw/Getty

13of 13Maame BineyHarry How/GettyBiney, originally from Ghana,became the youngest skaterandfirst Black womanto make a U.S. Olympic short track speed skating team and the second-ever African-born athlete to represent the United States in the Winter Olympics in 2018.

13of 13

Maame Biney

Harry How/Getty

Biney, originally from Ghana,became the youngest skaterandfirst Black womanto make a U.S. Olympic short track speed skating team and the second-ever African-born athlete to represent the United States in the Winter Olympics in 2018.

source: people.com