Black Athletes Shine at 2026 Winter Olympics

Representing Team USA, Canada, Jamaica, and African nations, Black athletes are making history at the Milano Cortina Games.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Black athletes from around the world are competing in various sports at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, including hockey, speed skating, bobsledding, and skeleton. Team USA, Canada, Jamaica, Nigeria, Benin, Madagascar, Eritrea, and Kenya are all represented by Black athletes making history at the Games.

Why it matters

The participation and success of Black athletes at the Winter Olympics is significant, as the Winter Games have traditionally been dominated by white athletes. This diversity and representation at the highest levels of winter sports is an important milestone for inclusion and equity in elite athletics.

The details

Some of the notable Black athletes competing include Laila Edwards, the first Black woman on the U.S. women's ice hockey team; Erin Jackson, the reigning 500m speed skating champion; Elana Meyers Taylor, the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympic history on the U.S. bobsled team; and Mystique Ro and Darryl Payne Jr. in skeleton. Canada is represented by hockey players Sarah Nurse and Sophie Jaques, while Jamaica, Nigeria, Benin, Madagascar, Eritrea, and Kenya also have Black athletes competing in events like bobsled, cross-country skiing, and alpine skiing.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics are currently underway in Cortina and Milan, Italy.
  • The women's ice hockey competition began on February 9.
  • The bobsled competition starts on February 15.
  • Alpine skiing for men began on February 11 and concludes on February 16, while the women's events started on February 12 and end on February 18.

The players

Laila Edwards

A 22-year-old senior defender from Cleveland Heights, Ohio who currently attends Wisconsin and serves as an alternate captain for the Badgers. She is the first Black woman to make the United States women's ice hockey roster.

Erin Jackson

The reigning champion in the 500m speed skating competition, making her the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympic Games.

Elana Meyers Taylor

A five-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympic history, competing on the U.S. bobsled team.

Mystique Ro

A 31-year-old athlete from Nokesville, Virginia who will represent the U.S. in women's skeleton.

Darryl Payne Jr.

The lone Black male athlete competing in skeleton for the United States, and the first African-American man to compete in skeleton on behalf of the U.S.

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What they’re saying

“I'm coming in as the defending champion and with that comes a ton of pressure, but I really like the pressure... I'm typically a really laid back and relaxed competitor, so the pressure helps me push to that next level and find that fire.”

— Erin Jackson (Olympics.com)

The takeaway

The participation and success of Black athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics represents an important milestone for diversity and inclusion in elite winter sports, which have traditionally been dominated by white athletes. This historic representation showcases the growing presence and impact of Black athletes on the global stage.