By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway in Italy and there are Black athletes across many disciplines and nations to note. Here is a look at the athletes who need your support, and others you weren’t aware of that are already extremely accomplished.
Black athletes shine for Team USA
Hockey
Laila Edwards has already made history by becoming the first Black woman to make the United States women’s ice hockey roster. The 22-year-old senior defender from Cleveland Heights, Ohio currently attends Wisconsin and serves as an alternate captain for the Badgers.
The U.S. women’s ice hockey team is 4-0 at the Olympics, as of Feb. 11. They are winning in dominant fashion, out scoring opponents 20-1, including a win against reigning Olympic champion, Canada. Games can be viewed using the Peacock streaming app.
Edwards made history in the matchup against Canada on Feb. 9, becoming the first Black woman to score a goal for Team USA.
Speed Skating
Erin Jackson entered 2026 as the reigning champion in 500m speed skating competition, which made her the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympic Games.
“I’m coming in as the defending champion and with that comes a ton of pressure, but I really like the pressure…” said Jackson in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com. “I’m typically a really laid back and relaxed competitor, so the pressure helps me push to that next level and find that fire.”
Bobsledding
There are a handful of Black athletes competing on the bobsleigh team, highlighted by Elana Meyers Taylor. Taylor is a five-time Olympic medallist and is currently the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympic history. The official bobsledding competition begins on Sun., Feb. 15. Shown here, Taylor (right) with team member Azaria Hill (left). Other Black members of the bobsledding crew for Team USA include Pennsylvania’s Jasmine Jones and Kaysha Love, of Utah.
Skeleton
Mystique Ro, the 31-year-old athlete from Nokesville, Va. will help represent the U.S. in women’s skeleton. She is joined by Darryl Payne Jr., the lone Black male athlete competing in skeleton for the United States (U.S). Payne is the first African-American man to compete in skeleton on behalf of the U.S.
Black Canadian Athletes
Sarah Nurse (left) and Sophie Jaques are two Canadian Black athletes leading a very talented Canadian women’s national ice hockey team. Nurse is a forward playing in her third Winter Games. She currently holds the record for most points scored in a single women’s Olympic hockey tournament.
Jaques is making her Olympic debut. The 25-year-old made history in 2023 after winning the Patty Kazmaier Award as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes, which is awarded to the top female collegiate ice hockey player in the U.S. The Canadian women’s ice hockey team is currently 2-1 at the Olympics, with their only loss being to the U.S., by the score 1-5.
Caribbean and African Nations
Jamaica will be making their tenth Winter Olympic appearance as both the men’s and women’s bobsleigh teams will be competing between Feb. 15 through the 22. Mica Moore was the flag bearer for Jamaica. The former Great Britain athlete will be competing in the monobob, or the solo bobsleigh competition.
Samuel Ikpefan will make history as the first Nigerian to compete in two different cross-country skiing events. He is joined in the sport by 21-year-old Nathan Tchibozo of Benin, who makes history as the first competitor from the African nation to take on alpine skiing in the Winter Olympics.
Mialitiana Clerc and Mathieu Neumuller of Madagascar will both represent their country in Alpine skiing. Clerc is the first African woman to compete in three Winter Games.
Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda of Eritrea and Issa Laborde of Kenya round off the list of Black Africans competing in alpine skiing at the 2026 Olympic Games. Alpine skiing for men began on Wed., Feb. 11 and concludes on Mon. Feb. 16. Alpine skiing began on Thurs., Feb. 12 for women and ends Wed., Feb. 18.
