8 Black Women To Root For During The 2018 Olympic Winter Games
via essence:
Athletes from around the world dream of winning the coveted gold medal. This year the very best athletes in the world will have that chance.
The 2018 Winter Olympics kicks off Feb. 9 in Pyeongchang County, South Korea. Among the competitors are a group of dedicated Black women who have waited for this moment, and we’re here to root them on.
Before the torch is lit, check out the Black Girl Magic taking over the XXIII Olympic Winter Games.
Maame Biney
Maame Biney is only 17 years old and she’s already in the history books. Biney is the first Black woman to qualify for a U.S. Olympic speed skating team. She won a bronze medal in the 500-meter race at the world junior championships last season. Born in Ghana, Biney moved to Maryland with her father when she was five years old. Her father is also clearly her biggest fan: he was at her second finals match with a sign that read “Kick some hiney Biney
The Nigerian Bobsled Team – Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga
Even before the bobsledding team from Nigeria touches the ice, they’ve already made history. Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, and Akuoma Omeoga are the first Africans ever to compete in the sport of bobsled. It all began when 31-year-old Seun Adigun launched a GoFundMe in 2016 to help fund a bobsled team to compete in the 2018 Olympics. She even handcrafted a wooden training sled to begin preparing for the journey. Adigun used all of her savings and teammates Ngozi Onwumere, 26 and Akuoma Omeoga, 25 joined her on the journey to PyeongChang. The entire team began their Olympic journey through track and field. The history-making women have already landed lucrative sponsorships with Under Armour, Visa and a commercial with Beats by Dr. Dre. The team goes for the gold on Feb. 20.
Erin Jackson
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