Traditionally, black people have been underrepresented at the Winter Olympics. We’ve all heard the stereotypes about how black people “just don’t do cold” as an explanation for why there are a lack of black athletes in the winter games. This year however, there’s a sizable group of African Americans who are bucking that trend and making a splash at Sochi. Meet the Black Olympians at the 2014 winter games.
Adrian Adams
Adrian Adams is a member of the US Bobsled. Adams said his first trip in a bobsled was a “thrill seeking experience.” ”I loved it,” Adams said. ”I was ready to immediately go again.”
Maureen Ajoku
Maureen Ajoku is participating in the bobsled event. Ajoku thought the sport was crazy when she took her first ride down the track. “I think I was more happy and relieved that I came out alive than anything else,” Ajoku said. She holds a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Education in Applied Psychology from Santa Barbara, where she competed in jumps and heptathlon.
Shani Davis
The 31-year old speed skating veteran is looking to break a few records at the Sochi games. If successfully defends his Vancouver gold medal in the 1,000 meter race, he’ll become the first male Olympian to win the same individual event in three successive Winter games since a Swedish figure skater did so in 1928. He’s also chasing two American speed skating legends: Eric Heiden and Bonnie Blair, who have five and six Olympic medals respectively.
Aja Evans
Aja Evans has a background in track and field, having competed in both shot put and sprinting during her tenure at University of Illinois. She transitioned to bobsledding in March 2012 and was named Rookie of the Year. Evans comes from a family of talented athletes. Her brother, Fred, is the Vikings’ defensive tackle, her uncle is Gary Matthews, who is the former hitting coach of the Chicago Cubs , and her cousin is major league baseball player Gary Matthews Jr.
Jazmine Fenlator
For the first time in Olympic history, there will be black drivers for the bobsled competition. Jazmine Fenlator is one of those two drivers. The New Jersey native began bobsledding in 2007. Like many others, she comes from a track and field background and she still holds the records for indoor shot put, outdoor shot put and discus at Rider University. In her first few years competing Jazmine lost five family members and her mother suffered a debilitating heart attack. Then in 2011, she nearly lost her home to Hurricane Irene. ”No matter what struggles and losses I went through over the past year and a half, I made it. I persevered, I was resilient, and I can only be thankful everyday when I wake up for the opportunities I have before me. I know I have support and love behind me every step of the way.”
Lolo Jones
The now infamous hurdler who was a favorite to win gold at the 2012 London Games has joined the bobsled team. She was accepted onto the team mere weeks after first trying the sport. It was teammate Elana Meyers who first introduced her to bobsledding. Many critics believe that she was put on the team because she’s a publicity magnet, but she responded to the criticism on her Facebook page saying, ”Bobsled was my fresh start. Bobsled humbled me. Bobsled made me stronger. Bobsled made me hungry. Bobsled made me rely on faith. Bobsled gave me hope. I pushed a bobsled but bobsled pushed me to never give up on my dreams.”
Elana Meyers
Elana Meyers is the other bobsled team member who will receive the privilege of piloting the sled. She took up bobsledding six years ago after playing a wide range of sports in college, including softball, soccer and track. She’s the daughter of former Atlanta Falcons running back Eddie Meyers. She’s already won a bronze medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Lauryn Williams
Lauryn Williams is a two-time medalist in Olympic track and field, including a gold medal in the 2012 London Games. She just began bobsledding last year, but is already proving herself to be a formidable opponent having finished third in the U.S. Push Championship after just a few days of practicing the position. Lauryn is preparing to become a Certified Financial Planner and she wants to help her follow Olympians better guide their financial destinies.
The Jamaican Bobsled Team
Although they are not African-American, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the return of the Jamaican bobsled team after an over a decade-long absence. The first Jamaican bobsled team made their appearance in the 1988 Calgary Games, which is portrayed in the film Cool Runnings. The team had to raise money to make it to Sochi and now it seems that their clothes and some of their equipment is missing due to various flight complications. But driver Winston Watts isn’t worried: ”I do have a backup plan,” Watts said, trying to make light of a “frustrating” situation. “We do have a lot of guys here that want to help us, so I’m excited to see what’s going to be the outcome tomorrow.”