From Bobsledding To Hockey: 5 Black Athletes Owning Winter Sports

Source: Mark LoMoglio / Getty

This week, three women from Nigeria made history by becoming the first-ever African bobsledding team to qualify for the Olympics. Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, and Akuoma Omeoga will head to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea in February of next year.

In light of all the #BlackGirlMagic, we figured we’d celebrate all the melanin in winter sports, so future athletes might consider weathering the cold. Swipe through to find out who’s killing the game.

Wayne Simmonds

Sport: Ice hockey player for the Philadelphia Flyers

Highlights: Had a career high of 60 points for the 2015-2016 NHL season. Represented Philadelphia in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game and was awarded MVP.

Elana Meyers Taylor, Maureen Ajoku, Aja Evans, Briauna Jones, Kehri Jones, and Lauren Gibbs

Sport: Bobsledding

Highlights: These women are apart of the 2017-2018 USA Women’s Bobsled National Team. They will hit the eight-stop World Cup circuit before nominations for the U.S. Olympic Team are decided in January.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbf1y7Blbnj/

Brolin Mawejje

Sport: Snowboarding

Highlights: Looking to become the first Ugandan Olympic snowboarder. Starred in a documentary called Far From Home, chronicling his athletic journey.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZXhndhDcvn/?hl=en&taken-by=thabyron_ma

J.T. Brown 

Sport: Ice hockey player for the Tampa Bay Lightning

Highlights: Has made it to multiple Stanley Cup Playoff games. Became the first NHL player to raise his fist during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice.

Source: Mark LoMoglio / Getty

Vanessa James

Sport: Figure Skating

Highlights: 2017 European Bronze Medalist, 5x French National Champion, and represented France during the 2010 Winter Olymics.